A53704:772
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.
Were this conscientiously insisted on, out of a pure Love unto Jesus Christ, with Zeal for his Glory, it would not only be of more use, then innumerable wrangling Disputes about the points in Difference, but more then the exactest Methods in contriving Formularies of Consent, or Colloquies, or Synodical Conferences of the Parties at variance, with all their Solemnities, Orders, Limitations, Precautions, Concessions and Orations. Let men say what they will, it must be the Revival, Flourishing and Exercise of Evangelical Light, Faith and Love, that shall heal the Differences and breaches that are among the Churches of Christ; nor shall any thing else be honoured with any great influence into that work.
3. That all Communion of Churches as such, consists in the Communion of Faith and Love, in the Administration of the same Sacraments, and common Advice in things of common concerment. All these may be observed, when for sundry Reasons, the Members of them cannot have local presential Communion in some Ordinances, with each Church distinctly. If this Truth were well established and consented unto, men might be ⟨p. 304⟩easily convinced, that there is nothing wanting unto that Evangelical Union among Churches which the Gospel requires, but only their own humble, holy, peaceable Christian walking in their several Places and Stations. But where men put their own Interests and Possession of present Advantages, clothed under the Pretence of things necessary thereunto, into Conditions of Communion, or divest it of that latitude wherein Christ hath left it, by new Limitations of their own, it will never be attained on the true Evangelical Principles, that it must proceed upon. For however any may be displeased with it, I must assert and maintain, that there is nothing required by our Lord Jesus Christ, unto this end of the Communion of Churches, nor to any other end of Church Order or Worship whatever, but that only in whose Observance and Performance, there is an actual Exercise of Evangelical Grace in Obedience unto him.
3. That all Communion of Churches as such, consists in the Communion of Faith and Love, in the Administration of the same Sacraments, and common Advice in things of common concerment. All these may be observed, when for sundry Reasons, the Members of them cannot have local presential Communion in some Ordinances, with each Church distinctly. If this Truth were well established and consented unto, men might be