A90276:328
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.
Here indeed are we left by them,1 who renounce the Baptism they have received in their infancy, & repeat it again amongst themselves. Yet I suppose, that He, who upon that single account will undertake to prove them Schismatical, may find himself entangled. Nor is the case with them exactly as it was with the Donatists. They do the same thing with them, but not on the same Principles. The Donatists rebaptized those, who came to their societies, because they professed themselves to believe, that all Administration of Ordinances not in their Assemblies was null: and that they were to be looked on as no such thing. Our Anabaptists do the same thing, but on this plea, that though baptism be, yet infant baptism is not an Institution of Christ, and so is null from the nature of the thing it self, not the way of its Administration: but this falls not within the verge of my defence.
Here indeed are we left by them,1 who renounce the Baptisme they have received in their infancy, & repeat it again amongst themselves. Yet I suppose, that He, who upon that single account will undertake to prove them Schismaticall, may find himselfe intangled. Nor is the case with them exactly as it was with the Donatists. They doe the same thing with them, but not on the same Principles. The Donatists rebaptized those, who came to their societies, because they professed themselves to believe, that all Administration of Ordinances not in their Assemblyes was null: and that they were to be looked on as no such thing. Our Anabaptists doe the same thing, but on this plea, that though baptisme be, yet infant baptisme is not an Institution of Christ, and so is null from the nature of the thing it selfe, not the way of its Administration: but this fals not within the verge of my defence.
- 1§. 8.
In these several considerations we were,