A53704:785
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.
2. It must be proved unto the End proposed, that the Occasions and Reasons of their Separation of old, were the same, or of the same nature only, with those which we plead, for our refraining Communion from Parochial Assemblies. Now though the Dr. here makes a flourish with some Expressions about Zeal, Discipline, Purity of the Church, Edification (which he will not find in any of their Pretences) yet in truth there is not one thing alleged, wherein there is a Coincidence between the Occasions and Reasons pleaded by them, and ours.
2. It must be proved unto the End proposed, that the Occasions and Reasons of their Separation of old, were the same, or of the same nature only, with those which we plead, for our refraining Communion from Parochial Assemblies. Now though the Dr. here makes a flourish with some Expressions about Zeal, Discipline, Purity of the Church, Edification (which he will not find in any of their Pretences) yet in truth there is not one thing alledged, wherein there is a Coincidence between the Occasions and Reasons pleaded by them, and ours.
It is known that the principal thing in general which we insist upon, is the unwarrantable Imposition of unscriptural Terms and Conditions of Communion upon us; was there any such thing pleaded by them that made the Schisms of Old? indeed they were all of them imposers, and separated from the Church because they would not submit unto their Impositions. Some Bishops, or some that would have been Bishops but could not, entertaining some new Conceit of their own, which they would have imposed on all others, being not submitted unto therein, were the Causes of all those Schisms which were justly esteemed Criminal. So was it with the Novatians and Donatists in an especial manner. Even the great Tertullian (though no Bishop) left the Communion of the Church on this Ground. For because they would not admit of the strict Observance of some Austere Severities in Fasting, Abstinence from sundry Meats, and Watching, with the like, which he esteemed necessary, though no way warranted by Scripture Rule or Example, he utterly renounced their Communion; and countenanced ⟨p. 311⟩