A90296:146
A vision of unchangeable free mercy, in sending the means of grace to undeserved…A vision of vnchangeable free mercy, in sending the means of grace to undeserved…
A vision of unchangeable free mercy, in sending the means of grace to undeserved sinners: wherein Gods uncontrollable eternal purpose, in sending, and continuing the gospel unto this nation, in the middest of oppositions and contingencies, is discovered: his distinguishing mercy, in this great work, exalted, asserted, against opposers, repiners: in a sermon preached before the Honourable House of Commons, April. 29. being the day of public humiliation. Whereunto is annexed, a short defensative about church-government, (with a country essay for the practice of church-government there) toleration and petitions about these things. / By John Owen, minister of the gospel at Coggeshall in Essex.A vision of vnchangeable free mercy, in sending the means of grace to undeserved sinners: wherein Gods uncontrollable eternall purpose, in sending, and continuing the gospel unto this nation, in the middest of oppositions and contingencies, is discovered: his distinguishing mercy, in this great work, exalted, asserted, against opposers, repiners: in a sermon preached before the Honourable House of Commons, April. 29. being the day of publike humiliation. Whereunto is annexed, a short defensative about church-government, (with a countrey essay for the practice of church-government there) toleration and petitions about these things. / By Iohn Owen, minister of the gospel at Coggeshall in Essex.
London: printed by G.M. for Philemon Stephens, 1646
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.
A short defensative about CHURCH GOVERNMENT, Toleration and Petitions about these things.
A short defensative about CHVRCH GOVERNMENT, Toleration and Petitions about these things.
Reader,
This, 1be it what it will, thou hast no cause to thank or blame me for. Had I been mine own, it had not been thine. My submission unto others judgements, being the only cause of submitting this unto thy censure. The substance of it, is concerning things now adoing: in some whereof, I heretofore thought it my wisdom, modestly haesitare, (or at least, not with the most, peremptorily to dictate to others my apprehensions,)2 as wiser men have done in weightier things: And yet this, not so much for want of persuasion in my own mind, as out of opinion that we have already had too many needless and fruitless discourses about these matters. Would we could agree to spare perishing paper, 3and for my own part had not the opportunity of a few lines in the close of this sermon, and the importunity of not a few friends urged, I could have slighted all occasions, and accusations, provoking to publish those thoughts which I shall now impart: the truth is, in things concerning the Church, (I mean things purely external, of form, order and the like,) so many ways have I been spoken, that I often resolved to speak my self, desiring rather to appear (though conscious to my self of innumerable failings) what indeed I am, then what others incuriously suppose. But yet the many, I ever thought unworthy of an Apology, and some of satisfaction; Especially those, who would make their own judgements a rule for themselves and others: