A53704:702
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. Then I say, we beg the Pardon of all who concern themselves herein, that we scruple the Complying with such Rules, in Religion and the Worship of God, as the Apostles thought not meet to appoint or ordain.
But he adds, It is sufficient that they gave this general Rule, that all Lawful things are to be done for the Churches Peace.
But he addes, It is sufficient that they gave this general Rule, that all Lawful things are to be done for the Churches Peace.
Answ. What is to be done for the Churches Peace we shall afterwards consider. To be done, is intended of Acts of Religion in the Worship of God. I say then, the Apostles never gave any such Rule, as that pretended. ⟨p. 273⟩the Rule they gave was that all things which Christ hath commanded, were to be done and observed, and for the doing of any thing else, they gave no Rule. Especially they gave not such a large Rule as this, that might serve the turn and interest of the worst of men, in imposing on the Church, whatever they esteemed Lawful, as (not by virtue of any Rule of the Apostles, but in an open Rejection of all they gave) it afterwards fell out in the Church. This is a Rule, which would do the Work to the Purpose of all that have the Reputation of Governors in the Church, be it the Pope, or who it will. For they are themselves the sole Judges of what is Lawful; the People, as it is pretended, understand nothing of these things. Whatever therefore they have a Mind to introduce into the Worship of God, and to impose on the Practice of men therein, is to be done by virtue of this Apostolical Rule, for the Churches Peace, provided they judge it Lawful; and surely no Pope was ever yet so stark mad, as to impose things in Religion, which he himself judged unlawful. Besides, things may be Lawful in themselves, that is, Morally, which yet, it is not Lawful to introduce into the Worship of God, because not expedient, nor for Edification; Yea things may be Lawful to be done sometimes, on some occasions, in the Worship of God, which yet, it would be unlawful to impose by virtue of a general binding Rule for all times and seasons. Instances may be multiplied in each kind. Therefore I say the Apostles never gave this Rule; they opened no such Door unto Arbitrary Imposition; they laid no such Yoke on the Necks of the Disciples, which might prove heavier, and did so, then that of the Jewish Ceremonies which they had taken away; namely, that they were to do and observe all that should by their