A53704:504
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.) That many of those by whom this Liberty is denied unto professing Christians, yet do indeed take it for granted, that they have such a Liberty, and that it is their Duty to make use of it. For what are all the Contests between the Church of Rome, and the Church of England, so far as Christians, that are not Church-men, are concerned in them? Is it not, in whether of these ⟨p. 191⟩Churches Edification may be best obtained? If this be not the Ball between us, I know not what is. Now herein do not all the Writers and Preachers of both Parties give their Reasons and Arguments unto the People, why Edification is better to be had in the one Church then in the other? and do they not require of them to form a Judgment upon those Reasons and Arguments, and to act accordingly; if they do not, they do but make a Flourish, and act a Part, like Players on a Stage, without any determinate Design.
(2.) That many of those by whom this Liberty is denyed unto professing Christians, yet do indeed take it for granted, that they have such a Liberty, and that it is their Duty to make use of it. For what are all the Contests between the Church of Rome, and the Church of England, so far as Christians, that are not Church-men, are concerned in them? Is it not, in whether of these ⟨p. 191⟩Churches Edification may be best obtained? If this be not the Ball between us, I know not what is. Now herein do not all the Writers and Preachers of both Parties give their Reasons and Arguments unto the People, why Edification is better to be had in the one Church then in the other? and do they not require of them to form a Judgment upon those Reasons and Arguments, and to act accordingly; if they do not, they do but make a Flourish, and act a Part, like Players on a Stage, without any determinate Design.
(3.) All Christians actually do so; they do judge for themselves, unless they are brutish; they do Act according unto that Judgment, unless they are hardened in Sin; and therefore who do not so, are not to be esteemed Disciples of Christ. To suppose that in all things of Spiritual and Eternal Concernment, that men are not determined and acted, every one by his own Judgment, is an Imagination of men who think but little of what they are, or do, or say, or Write. Even those who shut their Eyes against the Light, and follow in the Herd, resolving not to enquire into any of these things, do it, because they judge it is best for them so to do.