A53704:500
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. It is required that the Ministry of a Church so to be joined with, is not defective in any of those things which according to the Rule of the Gospel are fundamental thereunto. What these are, hath been declared. And because Edification, which is the End of Church Communion, doth so eminently depend on the Ministry of the Church, there is not any thing which we ought to have a more diligent consideration of, in the joining of our selves unto any such Communion. And where the Ministry of any Church, be the Church of what sort or size it will, is incurably Ignorant or Negligent, or through a defect in Gifts, Grace, or conscientious attendance unto their Duty, is insufficient unto the due Edification of the Souls of them that believe, no man can account himself obliged unto the Communion of the Church, but he that can be satisfied with a Shadow and the Names of things, for the Substance and Reality of them.
3. It is required that the Ministry of a Church so to be joyned with, is not defective in any of those things which according to the Rule of the Gospel are fundamental thereunto. What these are, hath been declared. And because Edification, which is the End of Church Communion, doth so eminently depend on the Ministry of the Church, there is not any thing which we ought to have a more diligent consideration of, in the joyning of our selves unto any such Communion. And where the Ministry of any Church, be the Church of what sort or size it will, is incurably Ignorant or Negligent, or through a defect in Gifts, Grace, or conscientious attendance unto their Duty, is insufficient unto the due Edification of the Souls of them that believe, no man can account himself obliged unto the Communion of the Church, but he that can be satisfied with a Shadow and the Names of things, for the Substance and Reality of them.
If therefore it be granted, as I think it is, that Edification is the principal End of all Church Communion, it is not intelligible how a man should be obliged unto that Communion, and that alone, wherein due Edification cannot be obtained. Wherefore, a Ministry enabled by Spiritual Gifts, and engaged by sense of Duty to labour constantly in the use of all means appointed by Christ for the Edification of the Church, or increase of his Mystical Body, is required in such a Church, as a Believer may conscientiously join himself unto. And where it is otherwise, let Men cry out Schism and Faction whilst they please, Jesus Christ will acquit his Disciples, in the Exercise of their Liberty, and accept them in the Discharge of their Duty.