A53704:629
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.
1. I shall not depart from the state of the Question as laid down by our selves on our part, as unto our Judgement of Parochial Churches, and our Refraining from Communion with them. Great Pains is taken to prove the several sorts of Dissenters to be departed farther from the Church of England then they will themselves allow, and on such Principles as are disavowed by them. But no Disputations can force our Assent unto what we know to be contrary unto our Principles and Persuasions.
1. I shall not depart from the state of the Question as laid down by our selves on our part, as unto our Judgement of Parochial Churches, and our Refraining from Communion with them. Great Pains is taken to prove the several sorts of Dissenters to be departed farther from the Church of England then they will themselves allow, and on such Principles as are disavowed by them. But no Disputations can force our Assent unto what we know to be contrary unto our Principles and Perswasions.
2. We do allow those Parochial Assemblies, which have a settled unblamable Ministry among them, to be true Churches, so far as they can pretend themselves so to be; Churches, whose Original is from occasional Cohabitation within Precincts limited by the Law of the Land; Churches, without Church-Power to choose or ordain their Officers, to provide for their own Continuation, to admit or exclude Members, or to reform at any time what is amiss among them; Churches, which are in all things under the Rule of those who are set over them, by virtue of Civil Constitutions, foreign ⟨p. 250⟩unto them, not submitted willingly unto by them, and such for the most part as whose Offices and Power, have not the least countenance given unto them from the Scripture or the Practice of the Primitive Churches; Such as are Chancellors, Commissaries, Officials, and the like; Churches in which for the most part through a total Neglect in Evangelical Discipline, there is a great Degeneracy from the exercise of Brotherly Love, and the Holiness of Christian Profession; whatever can be ascribed unto such Churches, we willingly allow unto them.