A53704:321
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 5: The Sate of the First Churches after the Apostles to the end of the Second Century.
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.
That which first offereth itself unto us, and which is an invaluable Testimony of the state of the first Churches, immediately after the Decease of the Apostles, is the Epistle of Clemens Romanus unto the Brethren of the Church of Corinth. This Epistle according to the Title of it, Irenaeus ascribes unto the whole Church at Rome, and calls it, potentissimas literas; sub hoc Clemente dissensione non modica inter •os qui Corinthi erant fratres facta▪ scripsit quae est Romae Ecclesia, potentissimas literas; lib. 3. cap. 3. By Eusebius it is termed [Greek or Hebrew], great and admirable; who also affirms that it was publicly read in some Churches; Ecclesiast. Hist. lib. 3. cap. 14. And again he calls it, [Greek or Hebrew], a most powerful writing; lib. 5. cap. 7.
That which first offereth itself unto us, and which is an invaluable Testimony of the state of the first Churches, immediately after the Decease of the Apostles, is the Epistle of Clemens Romanus unto the Brethren of the Church of Corinth. This Epistle according to the Title of it, Irenaeus ascribes unto the whole Church at Rome, and calls it, potentissimas literas; sub hoc Clemente dissensione non modica inter •os qui Corinthi erant fratres facta▪ scripsit quae est Romae Ecclesia, potentissimas literas; lib. 3. cap. 3. By Eusebius it is termed 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, great and admirable; who also affirms that it was publickly read in some Churches; Ecclesiast. Hist. lib. 3. cap. 14. And again he calls it, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, a most powerful writing; lib. 5. cap. 7.
There is no doubt but some things in the writings of it did befall him humanitûs, that the work of such a companion of some of the Apostles as he was, might not be received as of divine Institution; such was the credit which he gives unto the vulgar fable of the Phoenix. But for the substance of it, it is such as every way becomes a person of an Apostolical Spirit, consonant unto the stile and writings of the Apostles themselves; a precious Jewel, and just Representation of the state and order of the Church in those days. And sundry things we may observe from it.