A85314:0
Separation examined
Separation examined: or, a treatise wherein the grounds for separation from the ministry and churches of England are weighed, and found too light. The practise proved to be not only unwarrantable, but likewise so hurtful to the churches, that church-reformation cannot with any comfort go forward, so long as such separation is tolerated. Also an humble request presented to the congregational divines, that since the differences between them and the classical-divines are very small they would please to strike in with the classical-divines in carrying on the work of reformation, before the inundation of these corrupt opinions, have destroyed both ordinances and religion. / By Gi. Firmin minister to the church in Shalford in essex.Separation examined: or, a treatise vvherein the grounds for separation from the ministry and churches of England are weighed, and found too light. The practise proved to be not onely unwarrantable, but likewise so hurtful to the churches, that church-reformation cannot with any comfort go forward, so long as such separation is tolerated. Also an humble request presented to the congregational divines, that since the differences between them and the classical-divines are very small they would please to strike in with the classical-divines in carrying on the worke of reformation, before the inundation of these corrupt opinions, have destroyed both ordinances and religion. / By Gi. Firmin minister to the church in Shalford in essex.
London: printed by R.I. for Stephen Bowtell, 1652
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.
Separation Examined: OR, A TREATISE Wherein the grounds for Separation from the Ministry and Churches of England are weighed, and found too light. The practise proved to be not only unwarrantable, but likewise so hurtful to the Churches, that Church-Reformation cannot with any comfort go forward, so long as such Separation is Tolerated. Also an humble request presented to the Congregational Divines, that [since the differences between them and the Classical-Divines are very small] they would please to strike in with the Classical-Divines in carrying on the work of Reformation, before the Inundation of these corrupt Opinions, have destroyed both Ordinances and Religion.
Separation Examined: OR, A TREATISE VVherein the grounds for Separation from the Ministry and Churches of England are weighed, and found too light. The practise proved to be not onely unwarrantable, but likewise so hurtful to the Churches, that Church-Reformation cannot with any comfort go forward, so long as such Separation is Tolerated. Also an humble request presented to the Congregational Divines, that [since the differences between them and the Classical-Divines are very small] they would please to strike in with the Classical-Divines in carrying on the worke of Reformation, before the Inundation of these corrupt Opinions, have destroyed both Ordinances and Religion.
By Gi. Firmin Minister to the Church in Shalford in Essex.
1 Cor. 1.10. Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no Schisms among you. Judicabit autem & eosqui schismata operantur, qui sunt immanes, non habentes Dei dilectionem, suamque utilitatem potius considerantes quàm unitatem Ecclesiae, propter modicas & quaslibet causas magnum & gloriosum corpus Christi conscindunt & dividunt, &c. Irenae l. 4. c. 62. Cavenda sunt autem, fratres dilectissimi, non solum quae sunt aperta & manifesta, sed & astutae fraudis subtilitate fallentia, &c. haeteses invenit & schismata, quibus subverteret fidem, veritatem corrumperet, scinderet unitatem, Cypr. de unit. Eccles.