A53704:268
An enquiry into the original, nature, institution, power, order and communion of evangelical churches.…
An enquiry into the original, nature, institution, power, order and communion of evangelical churches. The first part with an answer to the discourse of the unreasonableness of separation written by Dr. Edward Stillingfleet, Dean of Pauls, and in defence of the vindication of non-conformists from the guilt of schism / by John Owen.An enquiry into the original, nature, institution, power, order and communion of evangelical churches. The first part with an answer to the discourse of the unreasonableness of separation written by Dr. Edward Stillingfleet, Dean of Pauls, and in defence of the vindication of non-conformists from the guilt of schisme / by John Owen.
London: printed by J. Richardson for Nath. Ponder, 1681
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Chapter 4: The Especial Nature of the Gospel Church-State appointed by Christ.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
3. The third End of the Institution of the Gospel Church-State is the Exercise and Preservation of the Discipline appointed by Christ to be observed by his Disciples. The Ancients do commonly call the whole Religion of Christianity, by the Name of the Discipline of Christ, that is, the Faith and Obedience which he hath prescribed unto them, in Contradistinction, and Opposition unto the Rules and Prescriptions of all philosophical Societies. And it is that, without which the Glory of Christian Religion can in no due manner be preserved. The especial Nature of it shall be afterwards fully spoken unto For the use of the present Argument I shall only speak unto the Ends of it, or what it is that the Lord Christ designeth in the Institution of it; and these things may be referred unto 4 Heads.
3. The third End of the Institution of the Gospel Church-State is the Exercise and Preservation of the Discipline appointed by Christ to be observed by his Disciples. The Antients do commonly call the whole Religion of Christianity, by the Name of the Discipline of Christ, that is, the Faith and Obedience which he hath prescribed unto them, in Contradistinction, and Opposition unto the Rules and Prescriptions of all •hilosophical Societies. And it is that, without which the Glory of •hristian Religion can in no due manner be preserved. The especial Nature of it shall be afterwards fully spoken unto For the use of the present Argument I shall only speak unto the Ends of it, or what it is that the Lord Christ designeth in the Institution of it; and these things may be referred unto 4 Heads.
1. The Preservation of the Doctrine of the Gospel in its Purity, and Obedience unto the Commands of Christ in its Integrity. For the First; the Scripture is full of Predictions, all confirmed in the Event, that after the days of the Apostles, there should be various Attempts to wrest, corrupt, and pervert the Doctrine of the Gospel, and to bring in pernicious Errors and Heresies. To prevent, or reprove, and remove them, is no small Part and Duty of the Ministerial Office in the Dispensation of the Word But whereas those who taught such perverse things, did for the most part arise at first in the Churches themselves;