A53704:397
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.
Two things only must be added unto these Principles, that we may not seem so to distinguish the Civil State and the Church, as to make them unconcerned in each other: For,
1. It is the unquestionable Duty of the Rulers and Governors of the World, upon the Preaching of the Gospel, to receive its Truth, and so yield Obedience unto its Commands. And whereas all Power and Offices are to be discharged for God, whose Ministers all Rulers be; they are bound in the discharge of their Office to countenance, supply, and protect the Profession ⟨p. 135⟩and Professors of the Truth, that is, the Church, according unto the degrees and measures which they shall judge necessary.
1. It is the unquestionable Duty of the Rulers and Governours of the World, upon the Preaching of the Gospel, to receive its Truth, and so yield Obedience unto its Commands. And whereas all Power and Offices are to be discharged for God, whose Ministers all Rulers be; they are bound in the discharge of their Office to countenance, supply, and protect the Profession ⟨p. 135⟩and Professours of the Truth, that is, the Church, according unto the degrees and measures which they shall judge necessary.
2. It is the Duty of the Church materially considered, that is, of all those who are Members of it, in any Kingdom or Commonwealth, to be usefully subservient, even as Christians, unto that Rule which is over them as Men, in all those ways, and by all those means, which the Laws, Usages, and Customs of the Countries whereof they are, do direct and prescribe. But these things are frequently spoken unto.