A53704:408
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.
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⟩alone knows perfectly, we do but guess; for there is not one word mentioned of any of their concernments in the Scripture. And we know that these Churches cannot be said to have all the Power that Christ hath entrusted his Church withal, because there is another Church, unto which they are in subjection, and on which they do depend; but it seems they have the next degree of Power unto that which is uppermost. But whatever their Power be, it is so administered by Chancellors, Commissaries, Officials, in such ways, and for such ends, that I shall believe a dissent from them and it to be Schism, when I believe it is Midnight, whilst the Sun shines in his full strength and Glory. And then we are told of Parochial Churches, who have this Power only, that if we do not in them whatever is required of us, not by them, but those that are put over them, they can inform against us, that we may be mulcted and punished.
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⟩alone knows perfectly, we do but guess; for there is not one word mentioned of any of their concernments in the Scripture. And we know that these Churches cannot be said to have all the Power that Christ hath entrusted his Church withal, because there is another Church, unto which they are in subjection, and on which they do depend; but it seems they have the next degree of Power unto that which is uppermost. But whatever their Power be, it is so administred by Chancellors, Commissaries, Officials, in such ways, and for such ends, that I shall believe a dissent from them and it to be Schism, when I believe it is Midnight, whilst the Sun shines in his full strength and Glory. And then we are told of Parochial Churches, who have this Power only, that if we do not in them whatever is required of us, not by them, but those that are put over them, they can inform against us, that we may be mulcted and punished.