A53704:70
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.
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,
1. They did not think themselves obliged, they did not think meet to abide within the bounds and limits of that Reformation of the Church, which had been attempted ⟨p. 34⟩before them, by Men Wise, Learned and Holy, even in this Nation. Such was that which was endeavoured by Wycliffe and his Followers, in giving Testimony whereunto many suffered Martyrdom, and prepared the way unto those that were to come after. They approved of what was then done or attempted to be done for the Substance of it; yet esteemed themselves at Liberty to make a further Progress in the same Work, which they did accordingly. Surely such Persons never designed their own Judgment and Practice to give Boundaries unto all Reformation for Evermore; or pretended that they had made so perfect a Discovery of the Mind of Christ in all things belonging unto the Rule and Worship of the Church; as that it should not only be vain, but sinful to make any farther Enquiries about it. Some thought they were come unto the utmost limits of Navigation, and discovery of the Parts of the World, before the West-Indies were found out. And some men when in any kind they know as much as they can, are apt to think there is no more to be known. It was not so with our Reformers.