A53704:69
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. The Titles assigned unto them, of Wise, Learned, Holy, Zealous, are fully answered by that Reformation of the Church, in its Doctrine and Worship, which God wrought by their Ministry, so that none without the highest ingratitude can derogate any thing from them in these things. But it is no disparagement unto any of the ⟨p. 33⟩Sons of Men, any Officers of the Church since the days of the Apostles, first Reformers, or those that followed them, to judge that they were not infallible, that their work was not absolutely perfect, like the work of God whereunto nothing can be added, nor ought taken away. Wherefore,
3. We are not obliged to make, what they did, and what they attained unto, and what they judged meet as unto the Government and Worship of the Church, to be our absolute Rule, from which it should be our Sin to dissent or depart. They never desired nor designed that it should be so; for to do so, would have been to have cast out one Papacy, and to have brought in another. And the Arguments of the Papists for their absolute Adherence unto the Men of their Veneration, those who have been formerly of great Reputation in their Church, for Learning, Holiness, and Devotion, are as forcible unto them, as any can be unto us for an Adherence unto the first Reformers in all things; but yet are they not excused in their Errors thereby. Had we received a Command from Heaven to hear them in all things, it had altered the case, but this we have received only with respect unto Jesus Christ, and shall therefore in these things ultimately attend only unto what he speaks. And we have sundry considerations which confirm us in the use and exercise of that Liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, to enquire our selves into our Duty in these things, and to regulate our Duty in them by his Word, notwithstanding what was done by our first Reformers. For,