A53704:758
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.
This Principle of the Reformation in like manner, is in no small degree weakened by many, and so the Cause of it. Dr. Still. himself, pag. 127, 128. denies unto the People all Liberty or Ability to choose their own Pastors, to judge what is meet for their own Edification, what is Heresy or a pernitio•• Error, and what is not, or any thing of the like nature. This is almost the same with that of the Pharisees concerning them who admired and followed the Doctrine of our Saviour, [Greek or Hebrew]. Joh. 7.49. This Rabble which knows not the Law. Yet was it this People whom the Apostles directed to choose out from among themselves Persons meet for an Ecclesiastical Office; Act. 6. The same People who joined with the Apostles and Elders in the consideration of the grand Case concerning the continuation of the legal Ceremonies, and were associated with them in the Determination of it; Act. 15. The same to whom all the Apostolical Epistles, excepting some to particular Persons, were written, and unto whom such Directions were given, and Duties enjoined in them, as suppose not only a Liberty and Ability to judge for themselves in all Matters of Faith and Obedience, but also an especial Interest in the Order and Discipline of the Church; Those who were to say unto Archippus; (their Bishop) take heed unto the Ministry thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it; Col. 4. unto whom of all sorts, it is commanded that they should examine and try ⟨p. 296⟩Antichrists, Spirits, and false Teachers, that is, all sorts of Heretics, Heresies and Errors, 1 Joh. chap. 2.3. &c. That People, who even in following Ages, adhered unto the Faith and the Orthodox Profession of it, when almost all their Bishops were become Arian Heretics; and kept their private Conventicles in opposition unto them, at Constantinople, Antioch, Alexandria and other places, and who were so many of them burned here in England by their own Bishops on the Judgement they made of Errors and Heresies. And if the present People with whom the Dr. is acquainted be altogether unmeet for the Discharge of any of these Duties, it is the fault of some body else, beside their own.