A85312:39
Of schism. Parochial congregations in England, and ordination
Of schism. Parochial congregations in England, and ordination by imposition of hands. Wherein Dr. Owen's discovery of the true nature of schism is briefly and friendly examined, together with Mr. Noyes of New England his arguments against imposition of hands in ordination. / By Giles Firmin, sometime of new England, now pastor of the Church at Shalford in Essex.
London: printed by T.C. for Nathanael Webb, 1658
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. If Divisions in a particular Church grow so high that divers of the members do causelessly make a Separation from the Church, holding Communion with themselves apart, that this is not Schism in the precise notion, however for disputation-sake against the Romanists and the Episcopal-men he may yield it to be so. The withdrawing from any Church or Society whatever ⟨p. 3⟩upon the plea of its corruption, be it true of false, with a mind and resolution to serve God in the due observation of Church Institutions, according to that light which men have received, is no where called Schism, p. 46, & 77. And Rev. p. 83.
2. If Divisions in a particular Church grow so high that divers of the members doe causelesly make a Separation from the Church, holding Communion with themselves apart, that this is not Schism in the precise notion, however for disputation-sake against the Romanists and the Episcopal-men he may yield it to be so. The withdrawing from any Church or Society whatever ⟨p. 3⟩upon the plea of its corruption, be it true of false, with a mind and resolution to serve God in the due observation of Church Institutions, according to that light which men have received, is no where called Schism, p. 46, & 77. And Rev. p. 83.
It is not called Schism, ergo it is not Schism. Will the consequence hold, if the plea be false? What is it called? I pray. Welfare an erroneous conscience; but suppose upon a false plea such a conscience should raise divisions in a Church, according to the definition, without separating from the Church; were it Schism or not?
I thought by one passage in the Doctor's Pre-view, p. 54. I had mistaken him; for thus he speaks to Mr. C. If he suppose that I deny that to be Schism where there is a separation, and that because there is a separation, as though Schism were in its whole nature exclusive of all separation, and lost its being when separation ensued; he hath taken my mind as rightly as he hath done the whole design of my book. But adds withal, Because this is not proved, I shall desire him not to make use of it for the future, as though it were so. These words I did not observe till I had done.