A53704:394
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.
It is necessary from this Institution of particular Churches, that they have their Subsistence, Continuation, Order, and the efficacy of all that they act and do as Churches, from Christ himself: For whereas all that they are and do, is Heavenly, Spiritual, and not of this world, that it reacheth nothing of all those things which are under the Power of the Magistrate, that is, the Lives and Bodies of Men, and all Civil Interests appertaining to them; and affect nothing but what no Power of all the Magistrates under Heaven can reach unto, that is, the Souls and Consciences of men; no trouble can hence arise unto any Rulers of the world, no Contests about what they ought, and what they ought not to confirm, which have caused great Disorders among many.
3. In particular also, There neither is nor can be in this Church-state the least pretence of Power or Authority to be acted towards, or over the Persons of Kings or Rulers, which should either impeach their Right, or impede the exercise of their just Authority. For as Christ hath granted no such Power unto the Church, so it is impossible that any pretence of it should be seated in a ⟨p. 134⟩particular Congregation, especially being gathered on this Principle, that there is no Church Power properly so called, but what is so seated; and that no Concurrence, Agreement or Association of many Churches, can add a new, greater, or other Power or Authority unto them, than what they had singly before. And what Power can such Churches act towards Kings, Potentates, or Rulers of Nations? Have they not the highest Security, that it is utterly impossible that ever their Authority, or their persons in the exercise of it, should be impeached, hindered, or receive any detriment from any thing that belongs to this Church-state?
3. In particular also, There neither is nor can be in this Church-state the least pretence of Power or Authority to be acted towards, or over the Persons of Kings or Rulers, which should either impeach their Right, or impede the exercise of their just Authority. For as Christ hath granted no such Power unto the Church, so it is impossible that any pretence of it should be seated in a