A53704:927
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.
4. As for the Church of Jerusalem in particular, notwithstanding the great number of its original Converts, who probably were many of them strangers, occasionally present at the Feast of Pentecost, and there instructed in the knowledge of the Truth, that they might in the several Countries whither they immediately returned, be instruments of the propagation of the Gospel, it is Certain that many years after it consisted of no greater Multitude then could come together in one place, to the Management of Church Affairs Acts, 15.20, 21. Nor is it likely that Pella an obscure place, whose name probably had never been known, but on this occasion, was like to receive any great Multitudes; nor doth Epiphanius say, as our Author pretends, that they spread themselves from thence to Coelosyria and Decapolis and Basanitis. For he affirms expressly that all the Disciples which went from Jerusalem dwelt at Pella. Only he says that from thence the Sect of the Nazarenes, took its original, which spread it self (afterwards) in Coelosyria, Decapolis and Basanitis. [Greek or Hebrew] (speaking of that Sect) [Greek or Hebrew]; They dwelled all at Pella.
4. As for the Church of Hierusalem in particular, notwithstanding the great number of its original Converts, who probably were many of them strangers, occasionally present at the Feast of Pentecost, and there instructed in the knowledge of the Truth, that they might in the several Countries whither they immediately returned, be instruments of the propagation of the Gospel, it is Certain that many years after it consisted of no greater Multitude then could come together in one place, to the Mannagement of Church Affairs Acts, 15.20, 21. Nor is it likely that Pella an obscure place, whose name probably had never been known, but on this occasion, was like to receive any great Multitudes; nor doth Epiphanius say, as our Authour pretends, that they spread themselves from thence to Coelosyria and Decapolis and Basanitis. For he affirmes expresly that all the Disciples which went from Hierusalem dwelt at Pella. Only he says that from thence the Sect of the Nazarenes, took its original, which spread it self (afterwards) in Coelosyria, Decapolis and Basanitis. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 (speaking of that Sect) 〈non-Latin alphabet〉; They dwelled all at Pella.