A90287:158
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.
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 ⟨p. 180⟩tending that way, that is not founded in an evident mistake, I will promise him, if I live, a reconsideration of it.
And thus Christian Reader I have given thee a briefe account of all things of any importance that I could meet withall in this treatise, and of many which are of very little; if thou shalt be pleased to compare my treatise of Schisme 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 materiall 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, unlesse it were to discover his designe, I hope doth by this time appeare. Much of the proofe 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 ⟨p. 180⟩tending that way, that is not founded in an evident mistake, I will promise him, if I live, a reconsideration of it.