A85312:65
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.
If the Doctor then will give me [a poor Country-Minister] leave, I will humbly propound the way I would take to find out the definition of Schism. I see it is a sin, and often-five to Christ, 1 Cor. 12.25. Now what is opposite to this, what is the affirmative precept? Union of the members amongst themselves. This is the thing often commanded, the thing Christs heart seemed to be fixed upon, John 17. when he was leaving the world, and that such Union as thereby the world may know whose disciples we are, as the Dr. p. 54. then I conceive Schism may be thus defined, 1Schism is the solution of that Unity which Christ our Head requireth in his Visible Body. ⟨p. 12⟩I am not in this place critical about the words Union or Unity; the Reader hath my meaning. I think the Dr. will not oppose this, for I find him enquiring exactly into the Union of the Invisible and Visible Church, &c. For the Invisible Church of Christ, there can be no Schism, saith the Doctor; hence I put it not in. It must be in his visible body, there I take in the Catholic Church [which I look on as most properly his Body-visible] and also particular Churches. I take this definition to be reciprocal, I do not call to mind any schismatical Act but it will comprehend it, whether it be Schism in a Church, or from a Church; in the Catholic or particular Churches: and yet my ground is Scriptural also, though I go not to a particular instance.
If the Doctor then will give me [a poor Countrey-Minister] leave, I will humbly propound the way I would take to find out the definition of Schism. I see it is a sin, and offen-five to Christ, 1 Cor. 12.25. Now what is opposite to this, what is the affirmative precept? Ʋ nion of the members amongst themselves. This is the thing often commanded, the thing Christs heart seemed to be fixed upon, John 17. when he was leaving the world, and that such Union as thereby the world may know whose disciples we are, as the Dr. p. 54. then I conceive Schism may be thus defined,