A53704:362
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.
Those of whom he speaks, [Greek or Hebrew], were the Pastors or principal Members of the Churches that were established. When they understood that in any place distant from them, a number of Believers were called and gathered into Church order by the Preaching of the Word, they presently, according unto their duty, took care of them, enquired into their State and condition, assisting them in particular, in finding out, trying, and recommending unto them, persons meet to be their Officers and Rulers. These he acknowledgeth to be Churches and Cities of God, upon their Collection by the Preaching of the Word, antecedently unto the constitution of any Officers among them; as the Apostles also did, Act. 14.22, 23. Wherefore the Church▪ is essentially before its ordinary Officers, and cannot as unto its continuance depend on any Succession of theirs, which they have none, but what it gives unto them. These Officers, thus recommended, ⟨p. 116⟩were chosen, as he tells us, by the Churches, wherein they were to preside, and thereon did govern them by the Rule of Gods Word alone.
Those of whom he speaks, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, were the Pastors or principal Members of the Churches that were established. When they understood that in any place distant from them, a number of Believers were called and gathered into Church order by the Preaching of the Word, they presently, according unto their duty, took care of them, enquired into their State and condition, assisting them in particular, in finding out, trying, and recommending unto them, persons meet to be their Officers and Rulers. These he acknowledgeth to be Churches and Cities of God, upon their Collection by the Preaching of the Word, antecedently unto the constitution of any Officers among them; as the Apostles also did, Act. 14.22, 23. Wherefore the Church▪ is essentially before its ordinary Officers, and cannot as unto its continuance depend on any Succession of theirs, which they have none, but what it gives unto them. These Officers, thus recommended, ⟨p. 116⟩