A53704:407
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.
2. It is utterly foreign to the Scripture, and a Monster unto Antiquity, (I mean that which is pure and regardable in this Cause) that there should be Churches with a part, half, more or less of Church-Power, and not the whole, neither in Right nor Exercise; or that there should be Church-Officers, Elders, Presbyters or Bishops, that should have a partiary Power, half or a third part, or less, of that which entirely belongeth unto the Office they hold. Let one Testimony be given out of the Scripture, or that Antiquity which we appeal unto, unto this purpose, and we shall cease our Plea. But this is that which our Understandings are set on rack withal every day. There is a National Church that is entrusted with Supreme Church-Power in the Nation whereof it is: Here at the entrance we fall into a double disquietment.
2. It is utterly forreign to the Scripture, and a Monster unto Antiquity, (I mean that which is pure and regardable in this Cause) that there should be Churches with a part, half, more or less of Church-Power, and not the whole, neither in Right nor Exercise; or that there should be Church-Officers, Elders, Presbyters or Bishops, that should have a partiary Power, half or a third part, or less, of that which entirely belongeth unto the Office they hold. Let one Testimony be given out of the Scripture, or that Antiquity which we appeal unto, unto this purpose, and we shall cease our Plea. But this is that which our Understandings are set on rack withal every day. There is a National Church that is entrusted with Supreme Church-Power in the Nation whereof it is: Here at the entrance we fall into a double disquietment.
For (1.) we know not as yet what this National Church is, here (or in France,) nor of what Persons it doth consist. (2.) We know not whether this National Church have all the Power that Christ hath given unto the Church, or that there is a Reserve for some Addition from beyond Sea, if things were well accommodated. Then, that there are Diocesan Churches, whose Original, with the Causes and Occasions of their Bounds, Limits, Power, and manner of Administrations, I think God ⟨p. 140⟩