A53704:332
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.
5. Having occasion to mention the Officers of the Church, he nameth only the two ranks of Bishops and Deacons, 1as the Apostle also doth, Phil. 1.1. speaking of the Apostles, he says, [Greek or Hebrew]. Preaching the word through Regions and Cities, they appointed the first fruits (as the House of Stephan as was the first fruits of Achaia, who therefore addicted themselves to the Ministry of the Saints, 1 Cor. 16.15.) or the first Converts to the Faith, after a Spiritual Trial of them, (as unto their fitness for their work) to be Bishops and Deacons of them that should afterwards believe. Where there were as yet but a few converted, the Apostle gathered them into Church-order; and so soon as they found any fit among them, appointed and ordained them to be Bishops and Deacons, so that provision might be made for the guidance and conduct of them that should be converted ⟨p. 97⟩and added unto them, after they were left by the Apostles. These Bishops he affirms to be, and have been the Presbyters or Elders of the Church, even the same with those deposed by the Corinthians, 2in the same manner as the Apostle doth, Act. 20.28. [Greek or Hebrew], &c. It is no small sin in us to reject or cast off them, who have offered the Gifts, (or discharged the Duties) of Episcopacy, holily and without blame. Blessed are the Elders who went before; namely, as he expresseth it, because they are freed from that amotion from their Office, which those Elders now amongst them had undergone, after they had duly discharged the Office of Episcopacy. Other distinction and difference of ordinary Officers, besides that of Bishops or Elders and Deacons, the Church at Rome in those days knew not. Such ought to be in every particular Church. Of any one single person to preside over many Churches, which is necessary unto the Constitution of a Church-state distinct from that which is Congregational, Clemens knew nothing in his days; but gives us such a description of the Church and its order, as is inconsistent with such a pretence.