A53704:606
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.
as also of the Rule which then prevailed, though afterwards shamefully forsaken, namely, that an Agreement in the Faith was the only Rule of Communion, which ought to be kept under any diversity in voluntary Observations. And the Discourse of Socrates on this Occasion; lib. 5. cap. 21; Concerning the Non-Institution of any days of Fastings or Feastings, or other Rites or Ceremonies then in use, with the Liberty which is therefore to be left in such things unto all Christians, is the plain Truth, ⟨p. 236⟩whatever some except against it, declared with much Judgement and Moderation.
This Beginning, I say, had the Imposition of unscriptural, uninstituted Rites, Ceremonies, and Religious Observations, among the Churches of Christ, and this solemn Rebuke was given unto it. Howbeit the Ignorance, Superstition, and Interest of following Ages, with the contempt of all Modesty, brake through the boundaries of this Holy Rebuke, until their own Impositions and Observations, became the substance of all their Church Discipline, unto the total subversion of Christian Liberty.
Wherefore to allow Church Rulers, or such as pretend so to be, a Liberty and Power, to appoint a Rule of Communion, comprising Institutions and Commands of sundry things, to be constantly observed in the whole Worship and Discipline of the Church, not warranted in themselves by divine Authority, and then to charge Believers, abiding firm in the Doctrine of the Faith with Schism, for a Non-compliance with such Commands and Appointments, is that which neither in the Scripture nor in Primitive Antiquity, hath either Instance, Example, President, Testimony, Rumour or Report to give Countenance unto it: The Pedigree of this Practise cannot be derived one step higher than the fact of Victor the Bishop of Rome, in the Excommunication of the Churches and Christians of Asia, which was solemnly condemned as an Entrenchment on Christian Liberty.