A90287:58
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.
Of the nature of schism.
Of the nature of schisme.
The second Chapter of my book, whose examination this Author undertakes in the second of his, containing the foundation of many inferences that ensue, and in particular of that description of Schism which he intends to oppose, it might have been expected, that he should not have culled out passages at his pleasure to descant upon, but either have transcribed the whole, or at least under one view have laid down clearly what I proposed to confirmation, that the state of the controversy being rightly formed, all might understand, what we say, and whereof we do affirm: but he thought better of another way of procedure, which I am now bound to allow him in; the reason whereof he knows, and other men may conjecture.
THe second Chapter of my booke, whose examination this Author undertakes in the second of his, containing the foundation of many inferences that ensue, and in particular of that description of Schisme which he intends to oppose, it might have been expected, that he should not have culled out passages at his pleasure to descant upon, but either have transcribed the whole, or at least under one view have laid downe clearly what I proposed to confirmation, that the state of the controversie being rightly formed, all might understand, what we say, and whereof we do affirme: but he thought better of another way of procedure, which I am now bound to allow him in; the reason whereof he knowes, and other men may conjecture.
The first words he fixes on are the first of the Chapter. The thing whereof we ⟨p. 53⟩treat being a disorder in the instituted worship of God; whereunto he replies, It is an ill sign or omen, to stumble at the threshold in going out: these words are ambiguous, and may have a double sense, either that schism is to be found in matter of instituted worship only, or only in the differences made in the time of celebrating instituted worship, and neither of these is yet true, or yet proved, and so a mere begging of the thing in question: for saith he, Schism may be in, and about other matter besides instituted worship.