A53704:338
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.
But yet because these Epistles are so earnestly contended for by many Learned men, as the genuine Writings of Ignatius, I shall not pass by the consideration of them, as unto the Argument in hand. I do therefore affirm that in these Epistles, (in any Edition of them,) there is no mention made, or Description given of any Church or Churches state, but only of that which is Congregational, that is, such a Church as all the Members whereof did meet and were obliged to meet for Divine Worship and Discipline in the same place. What was the Distinction ⟨p. 102⟩they observed among their Officers; of what fort they were, and what number, belongs not unto our present enquiry; our concernment is only this, that they did preside in the same particular Church, and were none of them Bishops of more Churches than one, or of any Church that should consist of a Collection or Association of such particular Churches as had no Bishops properly so called of their own.
But yet because these Epistles are so earnestly contended for by many Learned men, as the genuine Writings of Ignatius, I shall not pass by the consideration of them, as unto the Argument in hand. I do therefore affirm that in these Epistles, (in any Edition of them,) there is no mention made, or Desc•iption given of any Church or Churches state, but only of that which is Congregational, that is, such a Church as all the Members whereof did meet and were obliged to meet for Divine Worship and Discipline in the same place. What was the Distinction ⟨p. 102⟩they observed among their Officers; of what fort they were, and what number, belongs not unto our present enquiry; our concernment is only this, that they did preside in the same particular Church, and were none of them Bishops of more Churches than one, or of any Church that should consist of a Collection or Association of such particular Churches as had no Bishops properly so called of their own.
All these Epistle, that is, the seven most esteemed, were written, as that of Clemens, unto the Bodies or whole fraternity of the Churches, unto whom they are directed in distinction from their Bishops, Elders, and Deacons; excepting only that unto Polycarpus, which is unto a single person. Under that consideration, namely, of the entire fraternity in distinction from their Officers, doth he address unto them, and therein doth he ascribe and assign such Duties unto them, as could not be attended unto, nor performed but in the Assembly of them all. Such is the direction he gives unto the Church of the Philadelphians, how and in what manner they should receive penitents returning unto the Church, that they might be encouraged into that Duty by their Benignity and Patience. And many things of the like nature doth he deal with them about. And this Assembling together in the same place, namely, of the whole Church, he doth frequently intimate and express. Some instances hereof we may repeat.