A90287:67
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.
The first he insists upon is, that the thing mentioned is entirely in one Church, amongst the members of one particular society: no mention is made of one church divided against another, or separated from another.
To this he replies 1. that the church of Corinth, was a collective church, made up of many congregations, and that I my self confess they had solemn assemblies, not one assembly only; that I beg the Question by taking it for one single congregation. But I suppose one particular congregation may have more then one solemn assembly, even as many, as are the times, wherein they solemnly assemble.
To this he replies 1. that the church of Corinth, was a collective church, made up of many congregations, and that I my selfe confesse they had solemne assemhlies, not one assembly onely; that I beg the Question by taking it for one single congregation. But I suppose one particular congregation may have more then one solemne assembly, even as many, as are the times, wherein they solemnly assemble.
2. I supposed, I had proved that it was only one congregation, that used to assemble in one place, that the Apostle charged this crime upon; and that this Reverend Author was pleased to overlook what ⟨p. 62⟩was produced to that purpose, I am not to be blamed. 3. Here is another discovery, that this Reverend person never yet clearly understood the design of my treatise, nor the principles I proceed upon. Doth he think it is any thing to my present business, whither the church of Corinth were such a church as Presbyterians suppose it to be, or such a one as the Independents affirm it? whilst all acknowledge it to be one church, be that particular church of what kind it will; if the Schism rebuked by the Apostle consisted in division in it, and not in separation from it as such, I have evinced all that I intended by the Observation under consideration. Yet this he again pursues, and tells me, that there were more particular churches in and about Corinth, as that at Cenchrea, and that their differences were not confined to the verge of one church (for there were differences abroad out of the Church) and says, that at unawares I confess that they disputed from house to house, and in the public assemblies: but I will assure the Reverend Author I was aware of