A53704:590
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. The Conformity that is required of others, being precisely, and without Power of Dispensation in them by whom it is required, to answer the Rule or Law of it before declared, every Man by his so conforming, ⟨p. 228⟩doth thereby take it on his Conscience, and make it Part of his Christian Profession, that all which he so conforms unto, is not only what he may do, but what he ought to do, both in matter and manner, so far as the Law or any Part of it, doth determine or enjoin them. No man is allowed to make either distinction or Protestation with respect unto any thing contained in the Rules, and therefore whatever he doth in compliance therewith, is interpretable in the sight of God and Man, as an Approbation of the whole. Sincerity and Openness in Profession is indispensably required of us in order unto our Salvation. And therefore to instruct men as unto the Worship of God, to do what they do not judge to be their Duty to do, but only hope they may do it without Sin, or to join themselves in and unto that Performance of it, which either they approve not of as the best, in the whole, or not lawful or approvable in some Parts of it, is to instruct them unto the Debauching of their Consciences and Ruin of their own Souls. Let every one be persuaded in his own Mind; for what is not of Faith, is. Sin.
2. The Conformity that is required of others, being precisely, and without Power of Dispensation in them by whom it is required, to answer the Rule or Law of it before declared, every Man by his so conforming, ⟨p. 228⟩doth thereby take it on his Conscience, and make it Part of his Christian Profession, that all which he so conformes unto, is not only what he may do, but what he ought to do, both in matter and manner, so farre as the Law or any Part of it, doth determine or enjoyn them. No man is allowed to make either distinction or Protestation with respect unto any thing contained in the Rules, and therefore whatever he doth in compliance therewith, is interpretable in the sight of God and Man, as an Approbation of the whole. Sincerity and Openness in Profession is indispensibly required of us in order unto our Salvation. And therefore to instruct men as unto the Worship of God, to do what they do not judge to be their Duty to do, but only hope they may do it without Sin, or to joyn themselves in and unto that Performance of it, which either they approve not of as the best, in the whole, or not lawful or approveable in some Parts of it, is to instruct them unto the Debauching of their Consciences and Ruine of their own Souls. Let every one be perswaded in his own Mind; for what is not of Faith, is. Sin.