A53704:434
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 added in the description of the Subject, That it is such an one who takes due care of his own Salvation. Many there are who profess themselves to be Christians, who it may be hear the Word willingly, and do many things gladly, yet do not esteem themselves obliged unto a diligent enquiry into, and a precise observation of all the commands of Christ. But it is such whom we intend, who constantly fix their minds on the enjoyment of God, as their chiefest good and utmost end; who thereon duly consider the means of attaining it, and apply themselves ⟨p. 151⟩thereunto. And it is to be feared, that the number of such persons will not be found to be very great in the world; which is sufficient to take off the reproach from some particular Congregations of the smallness of their number. Such they ever were, and such is it foretold that they should be. Number was never yet esteemed a note of the true Church, by any but those, whose worldly interest it is that it should so be; yet at present absolutely in these Nations, the number of such persons is not small.
2. It is added in the description of the Subject, That it is such an one who takes due care of his own Salvation. Many there are who profess themselves to be Christians, who it may be hear the Word willingly, and do many things gladly, yet do not esteem themselves obliged unto a diligent enquiry into, and a precise observation of all the commands of Christ. But it is such whom we intend, who constantly fix their minds on the enjoyment of God, as their chiefest good and utmost end; who thereon duely consider the means of attaining it, and apply themselves ⟨p. 151⟩thereunto. And it is to be feared, that the number of such persons will not be found to be very great in the world; which is sufficient to take off the reproach from some particular Congregations of the smalness of their number. Such they ever were, and such is it foretold that they should be. Number was never yet esteemed a note of the true Church, by any but those, whose worldly interest it is that it should so be; yet at present absolutely in these Nations, the number of such persons is not small.