A53732:798
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.
2. THERE concurreth hereunto an Union among themselves, I mean all particular Churches throughout the World, in whom the Church Catholic doth Act its Power and Duty, And the Relation that is between these Churches, is that which is termed Relatio aequiparentiae, wherein neither of the Relata is the first foundation of it; but they are equal. It doth not arise from the Subordination of one unto another, they being all equal as unto what concerns their Essence and Power. And the bond hereof is that especial Love which Christ requireth among all his Disciples, acting it self unto all the ends of the Edification of the whole Body.
2. THERE concurreth hereunto an Vnion among themselves, I mean all particular Churches throughout the World, in whom the Church Catholick doth Act its Power and Duty, And the Relation that is between these Churches, is that which is termed Relatio aequiparentiae, wherein neither of the Relata is the first foundation of it; but they are equal. It doth not arise from the Subordination of one unto another, they being all equal as unto what concerns their Essence and Power. And the bond hereof is that especial Love which Christ requireth among all his Disciples, acting it self unto all the ends of the Edification of the whole Body.
TAKE in the whole, and the Union of Churches consists in their Relation unto God as their Father, and unto Christ as their only immediate Head of Influence and Rule, with a participation of the same Spirit, in the same Faith and Doctrine of Truth, the same kind of Holiness, the same Duties of Divine Worship, especially the same Mysteries of Baptism and the Supper, the observance of the same Rules or Commands of Christ in all Church-Order, with mutual Love, effectual unto all the ends of their Being and Constitution, or the Edification of the Church Catholic.
TAKE in the whole, and the Union of Churches consists in their Relation unto God as their Father, and unto Christ as their only immediate Head of Influence and Rule, with a participation of the same Spirit, in the same Faith and Doctrine of Truth, the same kind of Holiness, the same Duties of Divine Worship, especially the same Mysteries of Baptism and the Supper, the observance of the same Rules or Commands of Christ in all Church-Order, with mutual Love, effectual unto all the ends of their Being and Constitution, or the Edification of the Church Catholick.