A90276:120
Of schism the true nature of it discovered and considered, with reference to the…Of schisme the true nature of it discovered and considered, with reference to the…
Of schism the true nature of it discovered and considered, with reference to the present differences in religion. / By John Owen D.D.Of schisme the true nature of it discovered and considered, with reference to the present differences in religion. / By John Owen D.D.
Oxford: printed by L.L. for T. Robinson, 1657
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.
In the second,1 the Church hath perpetuity visibility, & infallibility as qualified above, in a secondary sense; namely, not as such, not as visible and confessing, but as comprising the individuals whereof the Catholic Church doth consist. For all that truly believe, profess; though all that profess, do not truly believe.
In the second,1 the Church hath perpetuity visibility, & infallibility as qualifyed above, in a secondary sence; namely, not as such, not as visible and confessing, but as comprizing the individualls whereof the Catholick Church doth consist. For all that truely believe, professe; though all that professe, doe not truely believe.
- 1§. 4.
Whether Christ hath had always a Church in the last sense, 1and Acceptation of the word, in the world, is a most needless enquiry: nor are we concerned in it, any farther then in other matters of fact, ⟨p. 86⟩that are recorded in story: though I am apt to believe, that although very many in all Ages kept up their station in, & Relation to the Church in the two former acceptations, yet there was in some of them scarce any visible Society of worshippers, so far answering the institution of Christ, as to render them fit to be owned and joined withal, as a visible particular Church of Christ: but yet, though the notions of men were generally corrupt, the practice of all professors throughout the world, whereof so little is recorded, at least of them that did best, is not rashly to be determined of. Nor can our Judgement be censured in this, by them who think, that when Christ lay in the Grave, there was no Believer left, but his Mother, and that the Church was preserved in that one person: So was Bernard minded Tractat. de pass. Dom. (ego sum vitis) sla per illud triste sabbathum stetit in fide, & salvata fuit Ecclesia in ipsa sola. Of the same mind is Marsilius in Sent. Quaest 20. Art. 3. as are also others of that sort of men, see Bannes in 2. 2. Thom. Quaest. 1. Art. 10. I no way doubt of the perpetual existence of innumerable Believers in every age, and such as made the profession, that is absolutely necessary