A90287:157
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.
I suppose this may do pretty well. But I fear this will scarce give satisfaction, & yet I know not well how I can go any farther; yet this I will add; I do indeed believe, that wherein their way and our way differ, our way is according to the mind of Christ and not theirs: and this I am ready at any time (God assisting) personally to maintain to him: and as for my running from ways of religion, I dare again tell him, these reproaches and calumnies become him not at all. But he proceeds, if so, (saith he) is not every man bound to come into it, and not upon every conceived new light to relinquish it. Truly I think Mr. C. himself is bound to come into it, and yet I do not think that his not so doing makes him a Schismatic: and as for relinquishment I assert no more, then what he himself concludes to be lawful.
I suppose this may do pretty well. But I fear this will scarce give satisfactiō, & yet I know not well how I can go any farther; yet this I will adde; I doindeed believe, that wherein their way and our way differ, our way is according to the mind of Christ and not theirs: and this I am ready at any time (God assisting) personally to maintaine to him: and as for my running from waies of religion, I dare againe tell him, these reproaches and calumnies become him not at all. But he proceeds, if so, (saith he) is not every man bound to come into it, and not upon every conceived new light to relinquish it. Truly I think Mr. C. himselfe is bound to come into it, and yet I do not think that his not so doeing makes him a Schismatick: and as for relinquishment I assert no more, then what he himselfe concludes to be lawfull.
And thus Christian Reader I have given thee a brief account of all things of any importance that I could meet withal in this treatise, and of many which are of very little; if thou shalt be pleased to compare my treatise of Schism with the refutation of it, thou wilt quickly see, how short this is, of that which it pretends to: how untouched my principles do abide, and how the most material parts of my discourse are utterly passed by, without any notice taken of them. The truth is, in the way chosen by this Reverend Author to proceed in, men may multiply writings to the worlds end, without driving any controversy to an issue; descanting and harping on words, making exceptions to particular passages and the like, is an easy and facile, and to some men a pleasant labour: what small Reason our Author had to give his book the title it bears, unless it were to discover his design, I hope doth by this time appear. Much of the proof of it lies in the repeated asseverations of it, it is so, and it is so. If he shall be pleased to send me word of one argument