A53704:567
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.
(3.) Such as consists in a different Exposition of particular places of Scripture whilst the Analogy of Faith is kept and preserved. Rom. 12.6.
(4.) Such as admits of different stated Apprehensions in and about such Doctrines, as wherein the practise and comfort of Christians are not immediately, nor greatly concerned. Such a Liberty, I say, as the Dispensation of Spiritual Gifts, and the different manner of their ⟨p. 218⟩exercise as the unsearchable depths that are in the Scripture not to be fathomed at once by any Church, or any sort of Persons whatever, and our knowing the best of us, but in part, with the difference of mens Capacities and Understandings, in and about things not absolutely necessary unto Edification, must be allowed in Churches and their Ministry. But I speak of that Variety of Doctrines, which is of greater importance. Such it is, as will set men at liberty to make their own Choice in the use of means for their Edification. And if such Novel Opinions, about the Person, Grace, Satisfaction and Righteousness of Christ, about the Work of the Holy Spirit of God in Regeneration or the Renovation of our Nature into the Image of God, as abound in some Churches, should at any time by the suffrage of the Major Part of them who by Law are entrusted with its conduct, be declared as the sense of the Church, it is and would be sufficient to absolve any man from an Obligation unto its Communion, by virtue of its first Institution and Establishment.
(4.) Such as admits of different stated Apprehensions in and about such Doctrines, as wherein the practise and comfort of Christians are not immediately, nor greatly concerned. Such a Liberty, I say, as the Dispensation of Spiritual Gifts, and the different manner of their ⟨p. 218⟩exercise as the unsearchable depths that are in the Scripture not to be fathomed at once by any Church, or any sort of Persons whatever, and our knowing the best of us, but in part, with the difference of mens Capacities and Understandings, in and about things not absolutely necessary unto Edification, must be allowed in Churches and their Ministry. But I speak of that Variety of Doctrines, which is of greater importance. Such it is, as will set men at liberty to make their own Choice in the use of means for their Edification. And if such Novel Opinions, about the Person, Grace, Satisfaction and Righteousness of Christ, about the Work of the Holy Spirit of God in Regeneration or the Renovation of our Nature into the Image of God, as abound in some Churches, should at any time by the suffrage of the Major Part of them who by Law are entrusted with its conduct, be declared as the sense of the Church, it is and would be sufficient to absolve any man from an Obligation unto its Communion, by vertue of its first Institution and Establishment.