A90287:133
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.
CHAP. X.
Independency no Schism.
Independency no Schisme.
WE are come now to the chapter that must do the work intended, or else operam & oleum perdidimus; Independentisme a great Schism, is the title of it; what this Independentisme is, he doth neither here declare, nor in any other part of his book; nor do I know what it is that he intends by it; I hear indeed from him that it is a schism, a Sect, but of what peculiar import, or wherein it consists, he hath not declared; I suppose he would have it taken for separation from true Churches, but neither doth the notion of the name, though invidiously broached and disavowed by them, to whom it is ascribed, import any such thing; nor is the thing it self owned by them, with whom he pretends to have to do: I find indeed that he tells us, that all Sectaries are Independents; Anabaptists, Seekers, Ranters, Quakers. Doth he expect that ⟨p. 147⟩I should undertake their defence? what if it should appear, that I have done more against them then our Reverend Author, and many of his brethren joined with him; he may perhaps be willing to load my self and those which he is pleased to call my associates, my party, I know not what, with their evils and miscarriages. But is this done as becomes a Christian, a Minister, a Brother? what security hath he, that had he been the only judge and disposer of things in Religion in this nation, if I and my associates had been sent to plant Churches among the Indians, that he should have prevented the eruption of the errors and abominations which we have been exercised withal in this generation, unless he had sent for Duke D'Alva's instruments to work his ends by? and indeed there is scarce any Sect in the nation, but had they their desires, they would take that course. This may be done by any that are uppermost if they please. But how shall we know what it is he intends by Independentisme: All (it may be) that are not Presbyterians are Independents.