A53704:390
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 6: Congregational Churches alone suited unto the ends of Christ in the Institution of his…
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.
1. Our first general Assertion unto this purpose is this; The Lord Jesus Christ taught no Doctrine, appointed no Order in his Church, gave it no Power that is opposite unto, or inconsistent with any righteous Government in this world, of what sort soever it be, of those whereunto ⟨p. 131⟩Government is distributed in Reason and Practice. His Doctrine indeed is opposed unto all Unrighteousness in and of all men, Magistrates and others; but not to the legal Rule of Magistrates that are unrighteous men. And this Opposition is Doctrinal only, confirmed with Promises and Threatenings of eternal things, refusing and despising all outward aids of force and restraint. This Rule we allow for the trial of all Churches, and their state, whether they be according unto the mind of Christ.
1. Our first general Assertion unto this purpose is this; The Lord Jesus Christ taught no Doctrine, appointed no Order in his Church, gave it no Power that is opposite unto, or inconsistent with any righteous Government in this world, of what sort soever it be, of those whereunto ⟨p. 131⟩Government is distributed in Reason and Practice. His Doctrine indeed is opposed unto all Unrighteousness in and of all men, Magistrates and others; but not to the legal Rule of Magistrates that are unrighteous men. And this Opposition is Doctrinal only, confirmed with Promises and Threatnings of eternal things, refusing and despising all outward aids of force and restraint. This Rule we allow for the trial of all Churches, and their state, whether they be according unto the minde of Christ.
But whereas the Lord Jesus Christ hath taught, commanded, appointed nothing that is contrary unto, or inconsistent with righteous Governments of any sort, if Rulers or Magistrates shall forbid the observance of what he hath commanded, appointed and ordered, and then charge it on him or his Way, that his Disciples cannot, dare not, will not comply with that Prohibition, and accuse them thereon of Sedition and Opposition unto Government, they deal injuriously with him, whereof they must give an account. For whereas all Power is given unto him in Heaven and Earth, all Nations are his Inheritance, all People in his absolute Disposal, and it is his pleasure to set up his Kingdom in the Earth, without which the Earth itself would not be continued; He could not deal more gently with the righteous Rulers of this world, (and he did it, because righteous Rule is the Ordinance of God) than to order all things so, that whether they receive his Law and Doctrine or no, nothing should be done in opposition unto them, or their Rule. And if any of them are not contented with this measure, but will forbid the observance of what he commands, wherein he alone is concerned and not they; this is left to be determined between him and them. In the mean time, when Rulers are not able to fancy, much