A53704:827
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.
It may not be impertinent on this occasion to desire of some others, that as they Love their own Souls, and have compassion for the Souls of other men; they would seriously consider, what state and Condition things are come unto in the Church of England; how much Ignorance, Profaneness, Sensuality, do spread themselves over the Nation; what Neglect of the most important Duties of the Gospel? Yea what scoffing at the power of Religion doth abound amongst us? What an utter decay and loss there is of all the primitive Discipline of the Church, what Multitudes are in the way of Eternal Ruin, for want of due Instruction and Example from them who should lead them; How great a necessity there is of an universal Reformation, and how securely Negligent of it, all sorts of Persons are? What have been the pernicious Effects of imposing things unnecessary and unscriptural on the Consciences and Practises of men in the Worship of God, whereby the Church hath been deprived of the labour of so many faithful Ministers, who might have at least assisted in preventing that Decay of Religion which every day increaseth among us; How easy a thing it were for them, to restore Evangelical ⟨p. 332⟩Peace and Unity amongst all Protestants, without the loss of their Ministry, without the diminution of their Dignity, without deprivation of any part of their Revenues, without the Neglect of any Duty, without doing any thing against their light and Consciences, with respect unto any Divine Obligation; and thereon set themselves seriously to endeavour the Remedy of these and other Evils of the like nature, under a sense of that great Account which they must shortly give before the Judgement seat of Jesus Christ.
It may not be impertinent on this occasion to desire of some others, that as they Love their own Souls, and have compassion for the Souls of other men; they would seriously consider, what state and Condition things are come unto in the Church of England; how much Ignorance, Profaneness, Sensuality, do spread themselves over the Nation; what Neglect of the most important Duties of the Gospel? Yea what scoffing at the power of Religion doth abound amongst us? What an utter decay and loss there is of all the primitive Discipline of the Church, what Multitudes are in the way of Eternal Ruin, for want of due Instruction and Example from them who should lead them; How great a necessity there is of an universal Reformation, and how securely Negligent of it, all sorts of Persons are? What have been the pernicious Effects of imposing things unnecessary and unscriptural on the Consciences and Practises of men in the Worship of God, whereby the Church hath been deprived of the labour of so many faithful Ministers, who might have at least assisted in preventing that Decay of Religion which every day encreaseth among us; How easie a thing it were for them, to restore Evangelical