A53704:589
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.
1. The Conformity required of Ministers consists in a public Assent and Consent unto the Book of Common Prayer, with the Rubric in it, which contains all the whole Practise of the Church of England, in its commands and Prohibitions. Now these being things that concern the Worship of God in Christ, the whole entire State, Order, Rule, and Government of the Gospel Church, whoever gives solemnly this Assent and Consent ⟨p. 227⟩unless he be allowed to enter his Protestation, against those things which he dislikes, and of the sense wherein he doth so assent and consent, which by Law is allowed unto none, the said Assent and Consent is his public Profession, that all these things, and all contained in them, are according to the Mind of Christ, and that the Ordering of them as such, is part of their professed Subjection unto his Gospel. Blessed be God, most Ministers are too wise and honest, to delude their Consciences with Distinctions, Equivocations, and Reservations, and do thereon rather choose to suffer Penury and Penalty, then to make the least entrenchment upon their own Consciences, or the honour of the Gospel in their Profession. What they do and declare of this Nature, they must do it in Sincerity, as in the sight of God, as approving what they do, not only as pardonable effects of Necessity, but as that which is the best they have or can do in the Worship of God; with a solemn Renunciation of whatever is contrary unto what they do so approve. And whether this be a meet Imposition on the Consciences of Ministers, with reference unto a great Book or Volume of a various composition, unto things almost without number, wherein exceptions have been given of old and lately, not answered, nor answerable, with Rules, Laws, Orders, not pretending to be Scriptural Prescriptions, is left unto the Judgment of all, who have due thoughts of their approaching Account before the Judgment Seat of Jesus Christ.
1. The Conformity required of Ministers consists in a publick Assent and Consent unto the Book of Common Prayer, with the Rubrick in it, which contains all the whole Practise of the Church of England, in its commands and Prohibitions. Now these being things that concern the Worship of God in Christ, the whole entire State, Order, Rule, and Government of the Gospel Church, whoever gives solemnly this Assent and Consent ⟨p. 227⟩