A90276:42
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.
2. Here is no mention of any particular man,1 or any number of mens separation from the Holy Assemblies of the whole Church, or of subduction of themselves from its power, nor doth the Apostle lay any such thing to their charge, but plainly declares, that they continued all in the joint celebration of that worship, and performance together of those duties, which were required of them in their Assemblies; only they had groundless, causeless differences amongst themselves, as I shall show afterwards. All the divisions of one Church from another, or others, the separation of any one or more persons from any Church or Churches, are things of another nature, made good or evil by their circumstances, and not that at all, which the Scripture knows and calls by ⟨p. 31⟩the name of Schism; And therefore was there no such thing or name, as Schism, in such a sense, known in the Judaical Church, though in the former it abounded. All the different sects to the last, still communicated in the same carnal Ordinances; and those who utterly deserted them, were Apostates, not Schismatics; so were the body of the Samaritans, they worshipped they knew not what, nor was Salvation among them, Joh. 4.
2. Here is no mention of any paticular man,1 or any number of mens separation from the Holy Assemblyes of the whole Church, or of subduction of themselves from its power, nor doth the Apostle lay any such thing to their charge, but plainely declares, that they continued all in the joynt celebration of that worship, and performance together of those duties, which were required of them in their Assemblyes; only they had groundlesse, causelesse differences amongst themselves, as I shall shew afterwards. All the divisions of one Church from another, or others, the separation of any one or more persons from any Church or Churches, are things of another nature, made good or evill by their circumstances, and not that at all, which the Scripture knowes and calls by ⟨p. 31⟩the name of Schisme; And therefore was there no such thing or name, as Schisme, in such a sence, known in the Judaicall Church, though in the former it abounded. All the different sects to the last, still communicated in the same carnall Ordinances; and those who utterly deserted them, were Apostates, not Schismaticks; so were the body of the Samaritans, they worshiped they knew not what, nor was Salvation among them,