A53704:480
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.
3. Where the Fundamentals of Religious Worship are corrupted or overthrown, it is absolutely unlawful to join unto, or abide in any Church. So is it with the Church of Rome. The various ways whereby the Foundations of Divine Religious Worship are overthrown in that Church by Superstition and Idolatry have been sufficiently declared. These render the Communion of that Church pernicious.
3. Where the Fundamentals of Religious Worship are corrupted or overthrown, it is absolutely unlawful to joyn unto, or abide in any Church. So is it with the Church of Rome. The various wayes whereby the Foundations of Divine Religious Worship are overthrown in that Church by Superstition and Idolatry have been sufficiently declared. These render the Communion of that Church pernitious.
4. Nor can any man be obliged to join himself with any Church, nor can it be his Duty so to do, where the Eternally fixed Rule and Measure of Religious Worship, namely, that it be of Divine Institution, is varied or ⟨p. 181⟩changed by any Additions unto it, or Substractions from it. For whereas one principal end of all Churches is the joint celebration of Divine Worship, if there be not a certain stable Rule thereof in any Church of Divine Prescription, no Man can be obliged unto Communion therewith.
4. Nor can any man be obliged to joyn himself with any Church, nor can it be his Duty so to do, where the Eternally fixed Rule and Measure of Religious Worship, namely, that it be of Divine Institution, is varied or ⟨p. 181⟩changed by any Additions unto it, or Substractions from it. For whereas one principal end of all Churches is the joint celebration of Divine Worship, if there be not a certain stable Rule thereof in any Church of Divine Prescription, no Man can be obliged unto Communion therewith.