A53732:774
The true nature of a Gospel church and its government
The true nature of a Gospel church and its government ... by the late pious and learned minister of the Gospel, John Owen ...
London: printed for William Marshall, 1689
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.
HOWEVER therefore we plead for the Rights of particular Churches, yet our real Controversy with most in the World, is for the Being, Union and Communion of the Church Catholic, which are variously perverted by many, and separating it into Parties, and confining it to Rules, Measures and Canons of their own finding out and Establishment. For such things as these, belong neither to the internal nor external Form of that Catholic Church, whose Being in the World we believe, and whose Union we are obliged to preserve. And whoever gives any Description of, or Limitation to the Catholic Church, besides what consist in the Communion of particular Churches intended, doth utterly overthrow it, and therein an Article of our Faith.
HOWEVER therefore we plead for the Rights of particular Churches, yet our real Controversy with most in the World, is for the Being, Union and Communion of the Church Catholick, which are variously perverted by many, and separating it into Parties, and confining it to Rules, Measures and Canons of their own finding out and Establishment. For such things as these, belong neither to the internal nor external Form of that Catholick Church, whose Being in the World we believe, and whose Vnion we are obliged to preserve. And whoever gives any Description of, or Limitation to the Catholick Church, besides what consist in the Communion of particular Churches intended, doth utterly overthrow it, and therein an Article of our Faith.
BUT this Communion of Churches cannot be duly apprehended, unless we enquire and determine wherein their Union doth consist. For Communion is an Act of Union, that receives both its Nature and Power from it, or by virtue of it. For of what Nature soever the Union of things distinct in themselves be, of the same is the Communion that they have among themselves.
BUT this Communion of Churches cannot be duly apprehended, unless we enquire and determine wherein their Vnion doth consist. For Communion is an Act of Vnion, that receives both its Nature and Power from it, or by virtue of it. For of what Nature soever the Vnion of things distinct in themselves be, of the same is the Communion that they have among themselves.