A53704:700
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.
1. It had been happy for Christians and Christian Religion if those who pretended to be their Successors, had followed their Example, and made no such Rules at all; that they would not have thought themselves wiser than they, or more careful for the Good of the Church, or better acquainted with the Mind of Christ in these things then they were. For that Multiplication of Rules, Laws, Canons, about the things mentioned, and others of an alike nature, which the Apostles never gave any Example of, or Encouragement unto, which ⟨p. 272⟩afterwards ensued, hath been a principal means of altering the state of the Church from its Original Institution, of corrupting its Worship, Administering occasion unto scandal and endless Strifes.
1. It had been happy for Christians and Christian Religion if those who pretended to be their Successors, had followed their Example, and made no such Rules at all; that they would not have thought themselves wiser than they, or more careful for the Good of the Church, or better acquainted with the Mind of Christ in these things then they were. For that Multiplication of Rules, Laws, Canons, about the things mentioned, and others of an alike nature, which the Apostles never gave any Example of, or Encouragement unto, which ⟨p. 272⟩afterwards ensued, hath been a principal means of altering the state of the Church from its Original Institution, of corrupting its Worship, Administring occasion unto scandal and endless Strifes.
2. If the Apostles gave no such Rules themselves, it may be concluded safely, that it was because in their Judgement, no such Rule was to be given. Other Reason hereof cannot be assigned, for if it might have been done, according to the Mind of Christ, and by virtue of the Commission which they had from him, innumerable Evils might have been prevented, by the doing of it. They foresaw what Differences would arise in the Church, what Divisions, the darkness and corrupt Lusts of men would cast them into, about such things as these, and probably knew much whereunto the Mystery of Iniquity tended; yet would they not appoint any Arbitrary Rules about things not ordained by our Lord Jesus Christ, which might have given some bounds unto the Inclinations of men, in making and multiplying Rules of their own, unto the ruin of the Church.