A53704:277
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.
2. The very Notation of the Word doth determine the sense of it unto a particular Congregation. Other things may in Churches, as we shall see afterwards, both in the Rule and Administration of the Duties of Holy Worship, be ordered and disposed in great variety. But whilst a Church is such as that ordinarily, the whole Body in its Rulers and those that are Ruled, do assemble together in one place, for the Administration of Gospel Ordinances, and the Exercise of Discipline, it is still one single Congregation, and can be neither Diocesan, Provincial, nor National. So that although the Essence of the Church doth not consist in actual Assemblies; yet are they absolutely necessary unto its constitution in exercise.
Hence is the Name of a Church. [Greek or Hebrew] the Verb in the Old ⟨p. 71⟩Testament, is to Congregate, to Assemble, to call and meet together, and nothing else. The LXX render it mostly by [Greek or Hebrew], to congregate in a Church Assembly; and sometimes by other Words of the same importance; as [Greek or Hebrew]; so they do the Noun [Greek or Hebrew] by [Greek or Hebrew]; seldom by any other word, but where they do so, it is always of the same Signification. Wherefore this Word signifies nothing but a Congregation which Assembles for the Ends and Uses of it, and Acts its Duties and Powers; so doth [Greek or Hebrew] also, in the New Testament. It may be sometimes applied unto that whose Essence is not denoted thereby, as the Church Catholic invisible, which is only a Mystical Society or Congregation. But wherever it is used to denote an outward visible Society, it doth connote their Assemblies together, in one. It is frequently used for an Actual Assembly. Act. 19.32, 39, 40. which was the signification of it in all Greek Writers. 1 Cor. 14.3, 4. And sometimes it is expressly affirmed, that it met together in the same place;