A90287:123
A review of the true nature of schism, with a vindication of the Congregational…A review of the true nature of schisme, with a vindication of the Congregationall…
A review of the true nature of schism, with a vindication of the Congregational churches in England, from the imputation thereof unjustly charged on them by Mr D. Cawdrey, preacher of the Word at Billing in Northampton-shire. / By John Owen D.D.A review of the true nature of schisme, with a vindication of the Congregationall churches in England, from the imputation thereof unjustly charged on them by Mr D. Cawdrey, preacher of the Word at Billing in Northampton-shire. / By John Owen D.D.
Oxford: printed by Henry Hall printer to the University for Thomas 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.
for so much as men are appointed the objects of the dispensation of the word I grant a man in the dispensation of it to act ministerially towards not only the members of the Catholic church, but the visible members of the world also in contradistinction thereunto:
for so much as men are appointed the objects of the dispensation of the word I grant a man in the dispensation of it to act ministerially towards not only the members of the Catholick church, but the visible members of the world also in contradistinction thereunto:
The third thing laid down by me, whereunto also he assents is, that every believer is obliged to join himself to some one of those Churches, that there he may abide in Doctrine and fellowship and breaking of bread and prayer: but my reasons whereby I prove this, he says he likes not so well: and truly I cannot help it; I have little hope he should like any thing well which is done by me: Let him be pleased to furnish me with better, and I shall make use of them; but yet when he ⟨p. 136⟩shall attempt so to do, it is odds but that one or other, will find as many flaws in them as he pretends to do in mine; But this, he saith he shall make use of, and that, he shall make advantage of, and I know not what, as if he were playing a prize upon a stage. The third reason is that which he likes worst of all, and I like the business the better, that what he understands least, that he likes worst; it is, that Christ hath given no direction for any duty of worship, merely and purely of sovereign institution, but only to them and by them who are so joined; Hereupon he asks: 1. is Baptism a a part of worship? A: yes, and to be so performed by them, that is a Minister in, or of them; I fear my expression in this place lead him to his whole mistake in this matter: 2. prayer and reading of the word in private families are they no duty of worship: An: Not merely and purely of sovereign institution. 3. Is preaching to convert heathens a duty of worship? not (as described) in all cases; when it is, it is to be performed by a minister; ⟨p. 137⟩