A53704:37
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.
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.
3. That there was such a gradual Deviation from the Original Institution of Churches, their Order and Rule, is manifest in the Event. For the change became at length as great as the distance is between the Gospel and the Rule of Christ over his Church, on the one hand, and the Canon Law with the Pope or Antichrist set over the Church on the other. This change was not wrought at once, not in one Age, but by an insensible Progress even from the Days of the Apostles unto those dark and evil times wherein the Popes of Rome were exalted into an absolute Tyranny over all Churches unto the satiety of their Ambition. For
4. This Mystery of Iniquity began to work in the days of the Apostles themselves, in the suggestions of Satan and the Lusts of Men, though in a manner latent and imperceptible unto the wisest and best of Men. For that this Mystery of the Iniquity consisted in the effectual Workings of the Pride, Ambition, and other Vices of the Minds of Men, excited, enticed, and guided, by the craft of Satan, until it issued in the Idolatrous persecuting State of the Church of Rome, wherein all Church Rule, Order, and Worship of Divine Institution was utterly destroyed or corrupted, we shall believe, until we see an Answer given unto the learned Writings of all sorts of Protestants whereby it hath been proved.
4. This Mistery of Iniquity began to work in the days of the Apostles themselves, in the suggestions of Satan and the Lusts of Men, though in a manner latent and imperceptible unto the wisest and best of Men. For that this Mistery of the Iniquity consisted in the effectual Workings of the Pride, Ambition, and other Vices of the Minds of Men, excited, enticed, and guided, by the craft of Satan, until it issued in the Idolatrous persecuting State of the Church of Rome, wherein all Church Rule, Order, and Worship of Divine Institution was utterly destroyed or corrupted, we shall believe, until we see an Answer given unto the learned Writings of all sorts of Protestants whereby it hath been proved.