A53704:672
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.
(2.) Those of the Jews, who lived in the Nations, and observed all the Rites of the Law, which were not confined unto the Land of Canaan. And
(3.) The Churches of the Gentiles which observed none of these things, forbearing only their Liberty in one or two Instances, not to give the other Offence. Some Differences and Disputes happened sometimes about these things and the Practise of them, whereon Peter himself fell into a Mistake, Gal. 2.14. And there seems to have been great Disputes about them at Rome, chap. 14. Yea it is judged that according unto their different Apprehensions of these things, there were two Churches at Rome, one of the Circumcision, the other of the Gentiles, walking in distinct Communion each by themselves. However the different Rule, of this kind that was between the Churches of Jerusalem and Antioch ⟨p. 263⟩is sufficiently declared, Acts 15. the one Church continuing Zealous of the Law, and the other rejoiced for the Consolation of being delivered from it; ver. 31. Yet was there no Schism between these Churches, but a constant Communion in Faith and Love. Such differences in Opinions and Practises were not yet formed into an Interest, obliging men to condemn them as Schismatics, who differ from them. For not to speak of what Orders and Rules for decency, particular Churches may make by common Consent among themselves, to make the Observation of Arbitrary Institutions, not prescribed in the Scripture, upon many Churches, to be the Rule of Communion in them and between them, which whosoever observe not, are to be esteemed Guilty of Schism, which Victor, Bishop of Rome first attempted, is contrary to the Rules of the Scripture, to the Principles of Christian Faith, Love, and Liberty, to the Example of the Apostles, hath no countenance given unto it in the Primitive Churches, and will certainly make our Differences Endless.