A90287:28
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.
But that the whole matter in difference may be the better stated and determined, I shall first pass through with the general concernments of the book it self, and then consider the several Chapters of it, as to any particulars in them that may seem to relate to the business in hand. It may possibly not a little conduce towards the removal of those obstructions unto peace and love, laid in our way by this Reverend Author, and to a clearer stating of the controversy▪ pretended to be ventilated in his discourse, to discover and lay aside those mistakes of his, which being interwoven with the main discourse from the beginning to the end, seem as principles to animate the whole, and to give it that life of trouble, whereof it is partaker. Some of them were, as absolutely considered, remarked before; I shall now renew the mention of them, with respect to that influence which they have into the Argumentative part of the Treatise under consideration.
But that the whole matter in difference may be the better stated and determined, I shall first passe through with the generall concernments of the book it selfe, and then consider the severall Chapters of it, as to any particulars in them that may seem to relate to the businesse in hand. It may possibly not a little conduce towards the removall of those obstructions unto peace and love, laid in our way by this Reverend Author, and to a clearer stating of the controversie▪ pretended to be ventilated in his discourse, to discover and lay aside those mistakes of his, which being interwoven with the main discourse from the beginning to the end, seeme as principles to animate the whole, and to give it that life of trouble, whereof it is partaker. Some of them were, as absolutely considered, remarked before; I shall now renew the mention of them, with respect to that influence which they have into the Argumentative part of the Treatise under consideration.
1. First then it is strenuously supposed ⟨p. 16⟩all along, that I deny all, or any Churches in England, to be true Churches of Christ, except only the Churches gathered in the Congregational way, and upon their principles: then that I deny all the reformed Churches beyond the Seas to be true Churches of Christ. This supposition being laid, as the foundation of the whole building, a confutation of my treatise is fixed thereon, a comparison is instituted between the Donatists and my self: Arguments are produced to prove their Churches to be true Churches, and their Ministers true Ministers. The charge of Schism on this bottom is freely given out and asserted, the proof of my Schismatical separation from hence deduced, and many terms of reproach are returned as a suitable reply to the provocation of this opinion. How great a portion of a small treatise may easily be taken up with discourses relating to these heads, is easy to apprehend. Now lest all this pains should be found to be useless, and causelessly undergone, let us consider how the Reverend Author proves this to be my