A53704:280
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.
It were an endless Task and unsuited unto our present Design, to examine the various pretensions unto the Church in this place; enough also if not too much hath been written already about them. I shall therefore observe only some few things from the context, which will sufficiently evidence what sort of Church it is, that is here intended.
1. The Rule and Direction given by our Saviour in this place unto his Disciples, doth not concern civil Injuries as such; but such Sins as have Scandal and Offence in them, either causing other men to Sin, or giving them Grief and Offence for Sin, whereby the exercise of Love in mutual Communion may be impeded. Private Injuries may be respected herein, but not as Injuries, but so far as they are scandalous, and matter of Offence unto them unto whom they are known. And this appears;
(1) From the proper Signification of the Phrase here ⟨p. 73⟩used; [Greek or Hebrew]. If thy Brother Sin against thee, Doing of an injury is expressed by [Greek or Hebrew], and to be injured by [Greek or Hebrew], 1 Cor. 6.8, 9. that is, to be wronged, to be dealt unjustly withal, and to be defrauded or deprived of our Right. But [Greek or Hebrew] is not so used; but only so to sin as to give scandal unto them against whom that Sin is said to be, 1 Cor. 8.11, 12: To be guilty of Sin against Christ in the light of their consciences, is to sin against them.
(1) From the proper Signification of the Phrase here