A53704:632
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.
In the Method whereinto he hath cast his Discourse, he begins with the reinforcement of his Charge, against ⟨p. 252⟩our refraining from total Communion with Parochial Assemblies: If the Reader will be pleased to take a review of what is said in the preceding Discourse unto this Head of our Charge in several Chapters, he will easily perceive that either the Reasonings of the Doctor reach not the Cause in hand, or are insufficient to justify his Intention, which I must say, though I am unwilling to repeat it, is by all ways and means, to load us with the Guilt and disreputation of Schism.
In the Method whereinto he hath cast his Discourse, he begins with the reinforcement of his Charge, against ⟨p. 252⟩our refraining from total Communion with Parochial Assemblies: If the Reader will be pleased to take a reveiw of what is said in the preceding Discourse unto this Head of our Charge in several Chapters, he will easily perceive that either the Reasonings of the Doctor reach not the Cause in hand, or are insufficient to justifie his Intention, which I must say, though I am unwilling to repeat it, is by all ways and means, to load us with the Guilt and disreputation of Schisme.
That which I first meet withal directly unto this Purpose is, Part 2. pag. 157. The Forbearance of Communion with the Church of England in its Parochial Assemblies (that is in the way and manner before described) he opposeth with two Arguments. The first respects those who allow occasional Communion with Parochial Churches but will not comply with them in that which is constant and absolute. For he says, if the first be lawful, the latter is necessary, from the commands we have to preserve the Peace and Unity of the Church. And the not doing it, he says, is one of the provoking sins of the Non-conformists; but whether it be a sin or no is sub Judice; that it is provoking unto some is sufficiently evident. I shall not make this any part of my Contest. Those who have so expressed their Charity; as to give countenance unto this pretended Advantage, will easily free themselves from the force of this Inference. For it must be remembered that this constant total Communion, doth not only include a conscientious Observance of all things appointed to be done by the Rules or Canons in those Assemblies, but a Renunciation also of all other ways and means of Edification by joint Communion, as unlawful and Evil. And it will be hard to prove that on a Concession of the Lawfulness of Communion