A53704:551
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.
But when a sober Enquiry was made concerning them, their Enemies were forced to confess, that they were guilty of no open Sin, no Adulteries, ⟨p. 212⟩no Swearings or Perjuries, as is evident in the Epistles of Pliny and Trajan the Emperor. In particular they utterly rejected from their Communion, all that resorted unto public Stage Plays, or other Spectacles, a solemn Renunciation whereof was required of them who were admitted unto Baptism when they were adult. See Clem. Pedag. lib. 3. cap. 12. If the Reader would have an account of the Lives and Manners of the first Churches in their Members, he may find it, in Clem. Epist. ad Cor. pag. 2, 3, 4. Justin Mart. Apol. 2. Tertullian in his Apol. and lib. 2. Ad Uxor. & de cultu faeminarum. Cyprian. Epist. 2. & 12. Euseb. Hist. lib. 9. cap. 8. Athanas. Epist. ad Solit. & Epiphan. lib. 3. T. 2 Sect. 24. and the multiplied complaints of Chrysostom, concerning the beginning of Degeneracy in this Matter, with others. If the Example of the Primitive Churches had been esteemed of any value or Authority in these things, much of our present Differences had been prevented.
But when a sober Enquiry was made concerning them, their Enemies were forced to confess, that they were guilty of no open Sin, no Adulteries, ⟨p. 212⟩no Swearings or Perjuries, as is evident in the Epistles of Pliny and Trajan the Emperour. In particular they utterly rejected from their Communion, all that resorted unto publick Stage Plays, or other Spectacles, a solemn Renunciation whereof was required of them who were admitted unto Baptisme when they were adult. See Clem. Pedag. lib. 3. cap. 12. If the Reader would have an account of the Lives and Manners of the first Churches in their Members, he may find it, in Clem. Epist. ad Cor. pag. 2, 3, 4. Justin Mart. Apol. 2. Tertullian in his Apol. and lib. 2. Ad Ʋxor. & de cultu faeminarum. Cyprian. Epist. 2. & 12. Euseb. Hist. lib. 9. cap. 8. Athanas. Epist. ad Solit. & Epiphan. lib. 3. T. 2 Sect. 24. and the multiplyed complaints of Chrysostome, concerning the beginning of Degeneracy in this Matter, with others. If the Example of the Primitive Churches had been esteemed of any value or Authority in these things, much of our present Differences had been prevented.