A53704:491
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.
Where therefore there is a Church or any Society that pretends so to be, wherein there is an utter Neglect of this Discipline of Christ, or the Establishment of another, not administered by the Laws and Rules that he hath prescribed, no Disciple of Christ can be obliged to join unto, or to continue in the total sole Communion of such a Church. And whereas there are two Parts of this Discipline of Christ; That which is Private, among the Members of the Church, for the Exercise and Preservation of Love; and that which is Public, in and by the Authority of the Rulers of the Church, for the Preservation of Purity and Order, a neglect in either of them, doth much impeach the Fundamental Constitution of a Church as unto its Practise.
Where therefore there is a Church or any Society that pretends so to be, wherein there is an utter Neglect of this Discipline of Christ, or the Establishment of another, not administred by the Laws and Rules that he hath prescribed, no Disciple of Christ can be obliged to joyn unto, or to continue in the total sole Communion of such a Church. And whereas there are two Parts of this Discipline of Christ; That which is Private, among the Members of the Church, for the Exercise and Preservation of Love; and that which is Publick, in and by the Authority of the Rulers of the Church, for the Preservation of Purity and Order, a neglect in either of them, doth much impeach the Fundamental Constitution of a Church as unto its Practise.
2. There are sundry other things which belong unto this Discipline in General, which are of great consideration in the Discharge of the Duty we enquire into. Among them are,
(1.) That constant Difference be put between the ⟨p. 186⟩