A53704:44
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.
It was not the Wisdom, nor the Courage, nor the Multitude of the•r Enemies, but their own Sins, Wickedness, Superstition, and Apostasy from the Rule of Gospel-Order, Worship and Obedience, which ruined all Christian Nations.
It was not the Wisdom, nor the Courage, nor the Multitude of the•r Enemies, but their own Sins, Wickedness, Superstition, and Apostacy from the Rule of Gospel-Order, Worship and Obedience, which ruined all Christian Nations.
But to give farther Evidence hereunto, I shall consider the causes aforementioned distinctly and apart. And the first of them is the Negligence of the people themselves. But in this Negligence I comprise both the Ignorance, Sloth, Worldliness, Decay in Gifts and Graces, with Superstition in sundry Instances, that in many of them were the causes of it. Dr. Still. pleads that it is very unlikely that the People would forego their Interest in ⟨p. 17⟩the Government of the Churches, if ever they had any such thing, without great Noise and Trouble. For, saith he, Government is so nice and tender a thing, that every one is so much concerned for his share in it, that men are not easily induced to part with it. Let us suppose the Judgement of the Church to have been Democratical at first, as Dr. O. seems to do, is it probable that the People would have been wheedled out of the sweetness of Government so soon, and made no noise about it? pag. 226. His Mistake about my Judgment herein hath been marked before. No other Interest or share in the Government is ascribed by us unto the People, but that they may be ruled by their own consent, and that they may be allowed to yield Obedience in the Church, unto the commands of Christ and his Apostles, given unto them for that End. This Interest they neither did nor could forego, without their own Sin and Guilt, in neglecting the Exercise of the Gifts and Graces which they ought to have had, and the Performance of the Duties whereunto they were obliged. But for any engagement on their Minds from the sweetness of Government, wherein their concern principally consists in an understanding voluntary Obedience unto the commands of Christ, they had nothing of it. Take also in general, Government to be, as the Government of the Church is, merely a Duty, Labour, and Service, without those Advantages of Power, Ease, Dignity, and Wealth, which have been annexed unto it; and it will be hard to discover such a Nicety or Sweetness in it, as to oblige unto Pertinacy in an adherence unto it. If the Government of the Church were apprehended to consist, in mens giving themselves wholly to the Word and Prayer, in watching continually over the Flock;