A53704:73
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. The first Reformers, both Bishops and others, both those who underwent Martyrdom at home, and those ⟨p. 35⟩who lived in Exile abroad, differed among themselves in their Judgments and Apprehensions about those things, which are now under contest; Whereas they perfectly agreed in all Doctrines of Faith and Gospel Obedience. The Public Records of these Differences, do so remain as that they cannot modestly be denied, nor handsomely covered. And this must needs weaken the Influence of their Authority in the Settlement of the Church, which was an Act only of the prevalent Party among them.
3. The first Reformers, both Bishops and others, both those who underwent Martyrdom at home, and those ⟨p. 35⟩who lived in Exile abroad, differed among themselves in their Judgments and Apprehensions about those things, which are now under concest; Whereas they perfectly agreed in all Doctrines of Faith and Gospel Obedience. The Publick Records of these Differences, do so remain as that they cannot modestly be denied, nor handsomly covered. And this must needs weaken the Influence of their Authority in the Settlement of the Church, which was an Act only of the prevalent Party among them.
4. They differed in these things from all other Reformed Churches, with whom they did absolutely agree in Doctrine, and had the strictest Communion in Faith and Love. For it is known that their Doctrine which they owned and established, was the same with that of the Churches abroad called particularly Reformed in distinction from the Lutherans. But as unto the State, Rule, and Order of the Church they differed from them all. I press not this consideration unto the disadvantage of what they attained unto and established in the way of Reformation, or in a way of preferring other Churches above them; but only to Evidence that we have reason enough not to esteem our selves absolutely obliged unto what they did and determined, as unto all Endeavours after any farther Reformation.