A53704:525
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.
Chapter 11: Of Conformity and Communion in Parochial Assemblies.
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.
Unto the Proof of the first Assertion, some things are to be premised. As,
1. Churches instituted, planted, ruled according to the Mind of Christ in all things may degenerate into a corrupt state, such as shall stand in need of Reformation, in a neglect whereof they must perish as unto their Church state and Privileges. This needs no confirmation; for besides that it is possible from all the causes of such an Apostasy and defection, that so it should be, and it is frequently foretold in the Scripture that so it would be, the Event in and among all Churches that had originally a divine Institution, doth make uncontrollably evident. The seven Churches of Asia, most of them within few years of their first Plantation, were so degenerated, that our Lord Jesus Christ threatened them with Casting off, unless they reformed themselves. What a woeful Apostasy all other Churches both of the East and West were involved in, is known unto and confessed by all Protestants. But yet the case of none of them was deplorable or desperate, until through Pride and carnal Interest they fell some of them into a Persuasion that they needed no Reformation, nor could be reformed, which is become a principal Article of Faith in the Roman Church. There was a Reformation attempted, and attained in some measure, by some Nations or Churches in the last Ages, from the Corruption and Impositions of the Church of Rome. However none of them ever pretended that it was complete or perfect, according to the Pattern of the Scripture, as unto the Institution and Discipline of the Churches; no nor yet to the Example of the Primitive Church of after Ages, as is acknowledged by the Church of England, in the beginning of the Commination against Sinners. But suppose it to be complete, to conclude that because an outward Rule of it was established, ⟨p. 204⟩so long as that outward Rule is observed, there can be no need of Reformation, is a way to lead Churches into a Presumptuous Security unto their Ruin. For whereas Men being secured in their Interests by that Rule, are prejudiced against any Progress in Reformation beyond what they have attained, which that it should be a Duty is contrary unto the whole nature of Christian Religion, which is the conduct of a Spiritual Life, in the growth and increase of Light and a suitable Obedience;