A53704:554
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.
(2.) That they have in themselves sufficient Right, Power, and Authority unto the attaining all the Ends of such Assemblies in Holy Worship and Rule. Other kind of Churches they know nothing of.
(3.) That they are enabled to preserve their own Purity, and continue their own Being. But all these things are denied unto our Parochial Assemblies by Law, and therefore they can claim no Warranty from either of those Principles. Wherefore there can be no Obligation upon any Believer to join themselves with such Churches in constant Communion, as are judged none by them that appoint them, or partially and improperly only so; or are of such a Constitution as hath in its essentially constituent ⟨p. 214⟩Parts no Warranty either from the Light of Nature or Scripture direction, so as that his dissent from them, should be esteemed Schism. How far Communion with them for some Duties of Worship, which is indeed all that they can pretend unto, may be admitted, we do not now enquire.
(3.) That they are enabled to preserve their own Purity, and continue their own Being. But all these things are denied unto our Parochial Assemblies by Law, and therefore they can claim no Warranty from either of those Principles. Wherefore there can be no Obligation upon any Believer to joyn themselves with such Churches in constant Communion, as are judged none by them that appoint them, or partially and improperly only so; or are of such a Constitution as hath in its essentially constituent ⟨p. 214⟩Parts no Warranty either from the Light of Nature or Scripture direction, so as that his dissent from them, should be esteemed Schisme. How far Communion with them for some Duties of Worship, which is indeed all that they can pretend unto, may be admitted, we do not now enquire.