A90276:172
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.
That it hath been of Advantage to the Truth of the Gospel,1 that Godly Learned men, Bishops of Churches, have convened, and witnessed a good Confession, in reference to the Doctrine thereof, and declared their abhorrency of the Errors, that are contrary thereunto, is confessed. That any man, or men, is, are, or ever were entrusted by Christ with Authority so to convene them, as that thereupon, and by virtue thereof, ⟨p. 130⟩they should be invested with a new Authority, Power, and Jurisdiction, at such a convention, and thence should take upon them to make Laws and Canons, that should be Ecclesiastically binding to any Persons, or Churches, as theirs, is not as yet to me attended with any convincing evidence of Truth. And seeing at length it must be spoken, I shall do it with submission to the thoughts of good men, that are any way acquainted with these things, and in sincerity therein commend my Conscience to God; that I do not know any thing that is extant, bearing clearer witness to the sad degeneracy of Christian Religion in the profession thereof, nor more evidently discovering the efficacy of another Spirit, than what was poured out by Christ at his Ascension, nor containing more hay and stubble, that is to be burned and consumed, then the stories of the Acts and Laws of the Councils and Synods, that have been in the World.
That it hath been of Advantage to the Truth of the Gospell,1 that Godly Learned men, Bishops of Churches, have convened, and witnessed a good Confession, in reference to the Doctrine thereof, and declared their abhorrencie of the Errors, that are contrary thereunto, is confessed. That any man, or men, is, are, or ever were entrusted by Christ with Authority so to convene them, as that thereupon, and by vertue thereof, ⟨p. 130⟩they should be invested with a new Authority, Power, and Jurisdiction, at such a convention, and thence should take upon them to make Laws and Canons, that should be Ecclesiastically binding to any Persons, or Churches, as theirs, is not as yet to meattended with any convincing evidence of Truth. And seeing at length it must be spoken, I shall doe it with submission to the thoughts of good men, that are any way acquainted with these things, and in sincerity therein commend my Conscience to God; that I doe not know any thing that is extant, bearing clearer witnesse to the sad degeneracy of Christian Religion in the profession thereof, nor more evidently discovering the efficacy of another Spirit, than what was powred out by Christ at his Ascension, nor containing more hay and stubble, that is to be burned and consumed, then the stories of the Acts and Laws of the Councells and Synods, that have been in the World.