A53704:620
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.
Every one of these Churches were bound by the Command of Christ to live in Peace, and Unity through the Exercise of Peculiar sincere and fervent Love among all their Members; as also to walk in Peace, and useful Communion with all oth•• Churches in the World, according as they had opportunity of Converse with them. And when on any occasion any Division or Schism fell out among any of their Members in this Church state, it was severely rebuked by the Apostles.
Every one of these Churches were bound by the Command of Christ to live in Peace, and Ʋnity through the Exercise of Peculiar sincere and fervent Love among all their Members; as also to walk in Peace, and useful Communion with all oth•• Churches in the World, according as they had opp••tunity of Converse with them. And when on any occasion any Division or Schisme fell out among any of their Members in this Church state, it was severely rebuked by the Apostles.
All these Churches and all the Members of them, were obliged by virtue of Divine Institution to obey their Guides, to Honour and Reverence them, and by their voluntary Contribution, to provide for their Honourable Subsistence and maintenance, according to their Ability. Other Church state neither the Scripture nor Antiquity unto the End of the second Century do know any thing of; which I shall hereafter more fully manifest. Neither was there any thing known then to be Schism or so esteemed, but a Division falling out in some one of these Churches; which happened for the most part, if not only, by some of their Teachers, falling into heresy and drawing away Disciples after them, Acts 20.30. or by various opinions about their Guides, 1 Cor. 1.12. or the Ambition of some in seeking the Power and Authority of office among them. To seek for any thing among those Churches, wherein our present Contest about Schism is concerned, is altogether in vain. There was then no such subordination of Churches, of many unto one, as is now pleaded; No such distinction of Officers,