A53704:56
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.
Nor is there any Analogy between the extraordinary Power of every Apostle over all Churches, and care for them, and the ordinary Power of a Bishop over a small Number, which Lot or Accident disposeth unto him. Besides it cannot be proved, no Instance can be given, or hath been for the space of 200 years or until the end of the second Century, of any one Person who had the care of more Churches than one committed unto him, or did take the charge of them on himself. But whereas this change did ⟨p. 25⟩fall out and appears evidently so to have done in the fourth Century, we may briefly enquire into the Causes and Occasions of it.
Churches were originally planted in Cities and Townes for the most part; not absolutely, for the Word was preached and Churches gathered by the Apostles [Greek or Hebrew], as Clemens testifieth. In such Cities there was but one Church, whereunto all Believers did belong. I mention this the rather because our present Author who is pleased frequently to mistake my Words and Principles, affirms that the thing which I should have proved, is, that there were more Churches at first planted in one City, than one. I know not why I should be obliged to do so, because I never said so. I do believe indeed that there may be more particular Churches than one, in one City; and that sometimes it is better that it should be so, then that all Believers in the same City, should be kept up unto one Congregation to the Obstruction of their Edification. But that there were originally or in the days of the Apostles more Churches than one, in any one City or Town, I do wholly deny; though I grant at the same time there were Churches in Villages also, as will appear afterwards. But though there was one Church only in one Town or City, yet all the Believers that belonged unto that Church, did not live in that City, but sundry of them in the Fields and Villages about. So Justin Martyr tells us, that on the first day of the week when the Church had its solemn Assemblies, all the Members of it in the City and out of the Country, the Fields and Villages about, met together in the same place. In process of time these Believers in the Country, did greatly increase, by the means of the Ministry of the City-Church, which diligently attended unto the Conversion