A90276:8
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.
Aggravations of the Evil of Shisme, from the Authority of the Ancients. Their incompetency to determine in this case; instanced in the sayings of Austin and Hierome. The saying of Aristides. Judgement of the Ancients subjected to disquisition. Some mens Advantage in charging others with Schism. The Actors part privileged. The Romanists interest herein. The charge of Schism not to be despised. The iniquity of Accusers justifies not the Accused. Several Persons charged with Schism on several accounts. The design of this discourse in reference to them. Justification of differences unpleasant. Attempts for peace and reconciliation considered. Several persuasions hereabouts, and endeavours of men to that End. Their Issues.
Aggravations of the Evil of Shisme, from the Authority of the Antients. Their incompetency to determine in this case; instanced in the sayings of Austine and Hierome. The saying of Aristides. Judgement of the Antients subjected to disquisition. Some mens Advantage in charging others with Schisme. The Actors part priviledged. The Romanists interest herein. The charge of Schisme not to be despised. The iniquity of Accusers justifys not the Accused. Severall Persons charged with Schisme on severall accounts. The designe of this discourse in reference to them. Justification of differences unpleasant. Attempts for peace and reconciliation considered. Severall perswasions hereabouts, and endeavours of men to that End. Their Issues.
IT is the manner of men of all persuasions,1 who undertake to treat of Schism, to make their entrance with Invectives against the evils thereof, with ⟨p. 2⟩aggravations of its heinousness. All men whether intending the Charge of others, or their own acquitment, esteem themselves concerned so to do. Sentences out of the Fathers, & determinations of Schoolmen, making it the greatest sin imaginable, are usually produced to this purpose. A course this is which mens Apprehensions have rendered useful, and the state of things in former days easy. Indeed whole volumes of the Ancients, written when they were Actors in this Cause, charging others with the guilt of it, & consequently with the vehemency of men, contending for that, wherein their own interest lay, might (if it were to our purpose) be transcribed to this end. But as they had the happiness to deal with men evidently guilty of many miscarriages, and for the most part absurd ad foolish, so many of them having fallen upon such a notion of the Catholic Church and Schism, as hath given occasion to many woeful mistakes, and much darkness in the following Ages, I cannot so easily give up the nature of this evil to their determination and judgement. About the aggravations of its sinfulness I shall not contend.