A53704:741
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. That they strengthen the Cause of Reformation. 2. That they open a way to Union between all Protestant Churches. 3. That they give the just Grounds of condemning the ancient Schisms that ever any Christian Church did justly condemn. 4. That they give due bounds unto Separation. 5. That they absolutely comply with all the Commands of the Scripture for the Preservation of the Peace and Unity of the Church.
1. That they strengthen the Cause of Reformation. 2. That they open a way to Ʋnion between all Protestant Churches. 3. That they give the just Grounds of condemning the antient Schismes that ever any Christian Church did justly condemn. 4. That they give due bounds unto S•paration. 5. That they absolutely comply with all the Commands of the Scripture for the Preservation of the Peace and Ʋnity of the Church.
I shall begin with the consideration of the Absurdities, charged by Him on our Principles and Practise.
The first of them is, That it weakens the Cause of the Reformation. This he proves by long Quotations out of some French Divines. We are not to expect that they should speak unto our Cause or make any Determination in it, seeing to the principal of them, it was unknown. ⟨p. 287⟩But they say that which is contrary unto our Principles; so they may do, and yet this not weaken the Cause of the Reformation. For it is known that they say somewhat also, that is contrary to the Principles of our Episcopal Brethren, for which one of them is sufficiently reviled; but yet the Cause of Reformation is not weakened thereby.