A90276:157
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.
I suppose this will be granted:1 That only Elect believers belong to the Church in this sense considered, is a Chimaera feigned in the brains of the Romanists, and fastened on the Reformed Divines. I wholly assent to Austins dispute on this head against the Donatists: and the whole entanglement, that hath been about this matter, hath arisen from obstinacy in the Papists in not receiving the Catholic Church in the sense mentioned before; which to do, they know would be injurious to their interest.
I suppose this will be granted:1 That only Elect believers belong to the Church in this sense considered, is a Chimaera feigned in the braines of the Romanists, and fastened on the Reformed Divines. I wholly assent to Austins dispute on this head against the Donatists: and the whole entanglement, that hath been about this matter, hath arisen from obstinacy in the Papists in not receiving the Catholick Church in the sense mentioned before; which to doe, they know would be injurious to their interest.
- 1§. 5.
This Church being visible and professing, 1and being now considered under that constituting difference, that the union of it cannot be the same with that of the Catholic Church before mentioned, it is clear from hence, that multitudes of men belong unto it, who have not the Relation mentioned before to Christ and his body; which is required in all comprehended in that union; seeing many are called, but few are chosen. Nor can it consist in a joint Assembly, either ordinary ⟨p. 117⟩or extraordinary, for the celebration of the Ordinances of the Gospel, or any one of them, as was the case of the Church of the Jews, which met at set times in one place, for the performance of that worship, which was then required, nor could otherwise be accomplished. For as it is not at all possible, that any such thing should ever be done, considering what is, and shall be, the estate of Christs visible Kingdom to the end of the World; so it is not (that I know of) pleaded, that Christ hath made any such appointment: yea it is on all hands confessed, at least cannot reasonably be denied, that there is a supersedeas granted to all supposals of any such duty, incumbent on the whole visible Church, by the Institution of particular Churches, wherein all the Ordinances of Christ are duly to be administered.