A53704:884
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.
3. The Case being put unto me, I answer plainly unto the Doctors last supposition whereon the whole depends, that if those things which we except against, as being unduly practised and imposed in Parochial Assemblies, were removed and taken away, I would hold Communion with them, all the Communion that any one is obliged to hold with any Church, and would in nothing ⟨p. 344⟩separate from them. This spoils the whole Case. But then he will say, I am no Independent; I cannot help that, he may judge as he sees Cause; for I am nullius addictus jurare in verba Magistria designing to be the Disciple of Christ alone.
3. The Case being put unto me, I answer plainly unto the Doctors last supposition whereon the whole depends, that if those things which we except against, as being unduely practised and imposed in Parochial Assemblies, were removed and taken away, I would hold Communion with them, all the Communion that any one is obliged to hold with any Church, and would in nothing ⟨p. 344⟩separate from them. This spoiles the whole Case. But then he will say, I am no Independent; I cannot help that, he may judge as he sees Cause; for I am nullius addictus jurare in verba Magistria designing to be the Disciple of Christ alone.
4. But yet suppose that in such Churches all the things excepted against being removed, there is yet a defect in some unalterable Rule, that Concerns the Government of the Churches, that they answer not in all things the strictness laid down in the Drs first supposition (although it is certain that if not all of them absolutely, yet the most of them, and of the most importance, would be found virtually in Parochial Assemblies, upon the removal of the things excepted against) the Enquiry is, what I would do then, or whether I would not set up a Congregational Church, gathered out of other Churches; I Answer, I tell you plainly what I would do;