A53704:288
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.
3ly. The Church here directed unto, is a Christian Church. For (1.) whereas it hath been proved, it concerned the times to come afterwards; there was in those times nothing that could pretend unto the name of the Church but a Christian Church only. The Jewish Synagogues had an utter end put unto them, so as that an Address unto any of them in this case was not only useless but unlawful. And as unto Magistrates or Arbitrators, to have them called the Church, and that in such a sense as that after the Interposition of their Authority or Advice, a man should be freed from the discharge of all Christian Duties, such as are mutually required among the Disciples of Christ towards his Brother, is a fond Imagination: For (2) It is such a Church, as can exercise Authority in the Name of Christ, over his Disciples, and such as in Conscience, they should be bound to submit themselves unto. For the Reason given of the Contempt of the Voice, Judgment and Sentence of the Church in case of offence, is their Power of spiritual binding and loo•ing, which is committed by Christ thereunto, and so he adds immediately ver. 18. Whatever ye shall bind on Earth, shall be bound in Heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose in heaven, shall be loosed on earth; is the Privilege of a Christian Church only.
3ly. The Church here directed unto, is a Christian Church. For (1.) whereas it hath been proved, it concerned the times to come afterwards; there was in those times nothing that could pretend unto the name of the Church but a Christian Church only. The Jewish Synagogues had an utter end put unto them, so as that an Address unto any of them in this case was not only useless but unlawful. And as unto Magistrates or Arbitrators, to have them called the Church, and that in such a sense as that after the Interposition of their Authority or Advice, a man should be freed from the discharge of all Christian Duties, such as are mutually required among the Disciples of Christ towards his Brother, is a fond Imagination: For (2) It is such a Church, as can exercise Authority in the Name of Christ, over his Disciples, and such as in Conscience, they should be bound to submit themselves unto. For the Reason given of the Contempt of the Voice, Judgment and Sentence of the Church in case of offence, is their Power of spiritual binding and loo•ing, which is comitted by Christ thereunto, and so he adds immediatley ver. 18. Whatever ye shall bind on Earth, shall be bound in Heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose in heaven, shall be loosed on earth; is the Priviledge of a Christian Church only.