A53704:613
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.
That which is now so fiercely pleaded by some concerning different Observations of external Modes, Rites, Customs, some, more, or none at all, to make men Schismatics, is at once to judge all the Primitive Churches to be Schismatical. Their Differences, Varieties, and Diversities among them, about these things, cannot be enumerated; and so without any disadvantage unto the Faith, or breach of Love, they continued to be, until all Church Order and Power was swallowed up in the Papal Tyranny ten thousand times more pernicious, then ten thousand such Disputes.
That which is now so fiercely pleaded by some concerning different Observations of external Modes, Rites, Customes, some, more, or none at all, to make men Schismaticks, is at once to judge all the Primitive Churches to be Schismatical. Their Differences, Varieties, and Diversities among them, about these things, cannot be enumerated; and so without any disadvantage unto the Faith, or breach of Love, they continued to be, untill all Church Order and Power was swallowed up in the Papal Tyranny ten thousand times more pernicious, then ten thousand such Disputes.
For a Close unto this whole Discourse, concerning the original nature and state of Gospel Churches, I shall use that Liberty which Love of the Truth puts into my Possession. Churches mentioned in the Scripture, ordained and appointed by the Authority of Jesus Christ, ⟨p. 240⟩were nothing but a certain number of Men and Women Converted to God, by the preaching of the Gospel, with their baptized seed, associating themselves in Obedience unto Christs Commands, and by the Direction of his Apostles, for the common Profession of the same Faith, the Observance and Performance of all Divine Institutions of Religious Worship, unto the Glory of God, their own Edification, and the Conversion of others. These Believers thus associated in Societies, knowing the Command and Appointment of Jesus Christ by his Apostles for that End, did choose from among themselves, such as were to be their Rulers, in the Name and Authority of Christ, according to the Law and Order of his institutions, who in the Scripture are called on various Considerations, Elders, Bishops, Pastors and the like names of Dignity, Authority and Office; who were to administer all the solemn Ordinances of the Church among them. Unto this Office they were solemnly appointed, ordained, or set apart, by the Apostles themselves, with fasting Prayer and imposition of hands, or by other ordinary Officers after their decease.