A53704:52
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.
Among those Multitudes which were added unto the Churches, especially in the fourth Century, many, if not the most, did come short inexpressibly in Knowledge, Gifts, Grace, Holiness, and uprightness of Conversation, of the Primitive, Christians, as the Writers of that Age complain. And being hereby uncapable of walking according unto the Order, Rule, and Discipline of the Apostolical Churches, there seemed to be a Necessity of another Rule, of other ways and means, for their Government, without their own concurrence or consent, then what was at first appointed, which were gradually introduced; Whence the original of a Multitude of those Canons, which were arbitrarily invented afterwards for their Rule and Government is to be derived. And it may be made to appear that the Accommodation of the Rule, yea and of the Worship of the Church in the several Ages of it, unto the Ignorance, Manners, and Inclinations of the People, who were then easily won unto the outward Profession of Christian Religion, was one means of the Ruin of them both, until they issued in downright Tyranny and Idolatry.
Among those Multitudes which were added unto the Churches, especially in the fourth Century, many, if not the most, did come short inexpressibly in Knowledge, Gifts, Grace, Holiness, and uprightness of Conversation, of the Primitive, Christians, as the Writers of that Age complain. And being hereby uncapable of walking according unto the Order, Rule, and Discipline of the Apostolical Churches, there seemed to be a Necessity of another Rule, of other ways and means, for their Government, without their own concurrence or consent, then what was at first appointed, which were gradually introduced; Whence the original of a Multitude of those Canons, which were arbitrarily invented afterwards for their Rule and Government is to be derived. And it may be made to appear that the Accommodation of the Rule, yea and of the Worship of the Church in the several Ages of it, unto the Ignorance, Manners, and Inclinations of the People, who were then easily won unto the outward Profession of Christian Religion, was one means of the Ruine of them both, until they issued in downright Tyranny and Idolatry.
But much more of the cause of the Deviation of the Churches from their Primitive Rule and Order, is to be ascribed unto the Ambition and Love of Preeminence in many of the Clergy, or Rulers of the Churches; But this is no Place nor Season to manifest this by Instances, besides it hath been done by others. I shall therefore enquire only into one or two things in particular,