A53704:804
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 the Imposition on him of extenuating the Guilt of any real Schism, is that which none of his Words do give the least countenance unto.
(2.) That the Doctors attempt in his feigned Oration to accommodate, his Principles, or Ours, unto the case of the Donatists for their Justification, (the weakness whereof is evident to every one who knows any thing of the case of the Donatists,) is such an instance of the Power of Interest, a design to maintain a Cause, causelessly undertaken, by all manner of Artifices and Pretences, prevailing in the minds of men otherwise Wise and Sober, as is to be lamented.
We come at length in the 5th. place. Sect, 28. p. 209. unto that which is indeed of more importance duly to be considered, then all that went before. For as our Author observes, it is that, wherein the Consciences of men are concerned. This Argument therefore he takes from the Obligation which lies upon all Christians to preserve the Peace and Unity of the Church. For the confirmation of this Argument, and the Application of it unto the case of them who refrain from total Communion with our Parochial Assemblies which alone is the case in hand, he lays down sundry suppositions, which I shall consider in their Order, although they may be all granted without any disadvantage unto our Cause. But they will be so the better, when they are rightly stated.
We come at length in the 5th. place. Sect, 28. p. 209. unto that which is indeed of more importance duly to be considered, then all that went before. For as our Author observes, it is that, wherein the Consciences of men are concerned. This Argument therefore he takes from the Obligation which lyes upon all Christians to preserve the Peace and Ʋnity of the Church. For the confirmation of this Argument, and the Application of it unto the case of them who refrain from total Communion with our Parocial Assemblies which alone is the case in hand, he lays down sundry suppositions, which I shall consider in their Order, although they may be all granted without any disadvantage unto our Cause. But they will be so the better, when they are rightly stated.