A53704:63
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.
It is no Part of my Design to give an Answer at large unto the great Volume that Dr. Still. hath written on this Occasion; much less to contend about particular Sayings, Opinions, the Practises of this or that Man, which it is filled withal. But whereas his Treatise, so far as the Merit of the Cause is concerned in it, doth consist of two Parts, the first whereof contains such Stories, Things, and Sayings, as may load the Cause and Persons whom he opposeth with prejudices in the Minds of others, in which endeavour he exceeds all Expectation; and what doth more directly concern the Argument in hand; I shall at the end of the ensuing Discourse speak distinctly unto all that is Material of the second sort, especially so far as is needful, unto the Defence of my former Vindication of the Non-conformists from the Guilt of Schism.
It is no Part of my Design to give an Answer at large unto the great Volume that Dr. Still. hath written on this Occasion; much less to contend about particular Sayings, Opinions, the Practises of this or that Man, which it is filled withal. But whereas his Treatise, so far as the Merit of the Cause is concerned in it, doth consist of two Parts, the first whereof contains such Stories, Things, and Sayings, as may load the Cause and Persons whom he opposeth with prejudices in the Minds of others, in which endeavour he exceeds all Expectation; and what doth more directly concern the Argument in hand; I shall at the end of the ensuing Discourse speak distinctly unto all that is Material of the second sort, especially so far as is needful, unto the Defence of my former Vindication of the Non-conformists from the Guilt of Schisme.
For the things of the first sort wherein the Doctor doth so abound both in his Preface, and in the first part of his Book, as to manifest himself (I fear) to be a little too sensible of Provocation, (for the actings of Interest in wise Men are usually more sedate) I shall only oppose some general considerations unto them, without arguing or contending about Particulars, which would be endless and useless. And whereas he hath gathered up almost every thing that hath been done, written or spoken, to the Prejudice of the Cause and Persons whom ⟨p. 31⟩