A53704:618
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.
Of these Churches one only was originally planted, in one City Town, or Village. This way was taken from Conveniency for Edification, and not from any positive Institution; and it may be otherwise where Conveniency and Opportunity do require it. The Number in ⟨p. 242⟩these Churches Multiplying daily, there was a necessity of the Multiplication of Bishops or Elders among them. Hereon the Advantage of some one Person in Priority of Conversion, or of Ordination, in Age, Gifts and Graces, especially in Ability for Preaching the Gospel and administering the Holy Ordinances of the Church, with the Necessity of preserving Order in the Society of the Elders themselves, gave him peculiar Dignity, Preeminence and Title. He was soon after the Bishop without any disadvantage to the Church.
Of these Churches one onely was originally planted, in one City Town, or Village. This way was taken from Conveniency for Edification, and not from any positive Institution; and it may be otherwise where Conveniency and Opportunity do require it. The Number in ⟨p. 242⟩these Churches Multiplying dayly, there was a necessity of the Multiplication of Bishops or Elders among them. Hereon the Advantage of some one Person in Priority of Conversion, or of Ordination, in Age, Gifts and Graces, especially in Ability for Preaching the Gospel and administring the Holy Ordinances of the Church, with the Necessity of preserving Order in the Society of the Elders themselves, gave him peculiar Dignity, Preheminence and Title. He was soon after the Bishop without any disadvantage to the Church.
For in those Churches, in some of them at least, Evangelists continued for a long Season, who had the Administration of Church Affairs in their hands. And some there were, who were of Note among the Apostles and eminently esteemed by them, who had eminent, yea, Apostolical Gifts, as to Preaching of the Word and Prayer, which was the peculiar work of the Apostle. These were the [Greek or Hebrew] mentioned by Clemens. Of the many other Elders who were associated in the Rule of the Church, it may be not many had Gifts for the constant Preaching of the Word, nor were called thereunto. Hence Justin Martyr seems to assign the constant public Administration of Sacred Ordinances unto one President. And this also promoted the constant presidency of one, in whom the Apostolical Aid by Evangelists might be supplied. These Churches thus fixed and settled in one place, (each of them) City, Town, or Village, were each of them entrusted with all the Power and Privileges which the Lord Christ hath granted unto, or endued his Church withal. This Power is called the power of the Keys, or of binding and loosing, which hath respect only unto the Consciences of Men,