A53704:790
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.
For although that Church continued in the ancient Faith and practise of receiving penitents after their Fall, yet there were no such number of them, as to influence the Election of Cornelius. So Cyprian testifieth, Factus est Cornelius Episcopus, de Dei & Christi ejus judicio, de Clericorum poene omnium Testimonio, de suffragio Plebis, &c. Epist. 52. On that false Opinion and this frivolous Pretence they continued their Schism; Hence afterwards, when Constantine the Emperor spake with Acesius the Bishop of the Novatians at Constantinople finding him sound in the Faith of the Trinity, which was then impugned by Arius, he asked him why then he did not communicate with the Church; whereon he began to tell him a story of what had happened ⟨p. 315⟩in the time of Decius the Emperor, pleading nothing else for himself; the Emperor replying only, O Acesius, set up a ladder and climb alone by thy self into Heaven, left him. Socrat. lib. 1: cap. 7.
For although that Church continued in the antient Faith and practise of receiving penitents after their Fall, yet there were no such number of them, as to influence the Election of Cornelius. So Cyprian testifieth, Factus est Cornelius Episcopus, de Dei & Christi ejus judicio, de Clericorum poene omnium Testimonio, de suffragio Plebis, &c. Epist. 52. On that false Opinion and this frivolous Pretence they continued their Schisme; Hence afterwards, when Constantine the Emperor spake with Acesius the Bishop of the Novatians at Constantinople finding him sound in the Faith of the Trinity, which was then impugned by Arius, he asked him why then he did not communicate with the Church; whereon he began to tell him a story of what had happened ⟨p. 315⟩in the time of Decius the Emperor, pleading nothing else for himself; the Emperor replying only, O Acesius, set up a ladder and climb alone by thy self into Heaven, left him. Socrat. lib. 1: cap. 7.
This Error endeavoured to be imposed on all Churches, this false Pretence in Matter of Fact, with the following Pride in the condemnation of all other Churches, denying unto them the lawful use of the Sacraments, and rebaptizing them who were baptized in them, do if we may believe the Doctor herein contain all my Pleas for the forbearance of Communion with Parochial Assemblies, and have countenance given unto them by our Principles and Practises.