A53704:928
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.
Sect. 7. p. 239. He quotes another saying of mine, namely, that I cannot discern the least necessity of any positive Rule or Direction in this Matter, seeing the Nature of the thing, and the duty of Man doth indispensably require it. And hereon he Attempts to make advantage, in opposition unto another saying as he supposeth of mine; Namely, that the Institution of Churches, and the Rules for their disposal and Government throughout the World are the same, stated and unalterable; from whence he makes many inferences ⟨p. 363⟩to countenance him in his Charge of Schism. But why should we contend fruitlessly about these things? had he been pleased to read a little farther on the same page, he would have seen that I affirm the Institution itself to be a plain Command, which considering the Nature of the duties required of men in Church Relation, is sufficient to oblige them thereunto, without any new Revelation unto that purpose, which renders all his Queries, Exceptions and Inferences of no use. For I do not speak in that place of the Original Institution of Churches whose Laws and Rules are Universal and Unalterable, but our actual gathering into particular Churches, for which I say the necessity of Duty is our Warrant, and the Institution it self a Command. No great Advantage will be made any way of such Attempts.
Sect. 7. p. 239. He quotes another saying of mine, namely, that I cannot discern the least necessity of any positive Rule or Direction in this Matter, seeing the Nature of the thing, and the duty of Man doth indispensibly require it. And hereon he Attempts to make advantage, in opposition unto another saying as he supposeth of mine; Namely, that the Institution of Churches, and the Rules for their disposal and Government throughout the World are the same, stated and unalterable; from whence he makes many inferences ⟨p. 363⟩to countenance him in his Charge of Schisme. But why should we contend fruitlesly about these things? had he been pleased to read a little farther on the same page, he would have seen that I affirm the Institution itself to be a plain Command, which considering the Nature of the duties required of men in Church Relation, is sufficient to oblige them thereunto, without any new Revelation unto that purpose, which renders all his Queries, Exceptions and Inferences of no use. For I do not speak in that place of the Original Institution of Churches whose Laws and Rules are Universal and Ʋnalterable, but our actual gathering into particular Churches, for which I say the necessity of Duty is our Warrant, and the Institution it self a Command. No great Advantage will be made any way of such Attempts.