A90296:156
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.
2. I dare not affirm that the Parliament hath not established a Government already, for the essentials of it, themselves affirming that they have, and their Ordinances about rulers, rules, and persons to be ruled, (the requisita and materials of Government) being long since extant. Now to require a thing to be done, by them, who affirm that they ⟨p. 51⟩have already done it, argues, either much weakness or supine negligence in our selves, not to understand what is effected, or a strong imputation, on those that have done it, either fraudulently, to pretend that which is false, or foolishly to averse, what they do not understand; yet though I have learned to obey as far as lawfully • may, my judgement is exceedingly far from being enslaved, and according to that, by Gods assistance, shall be my practice; which if it run cross to the prescriptions of authority, it shall cheerfully submit to the censure thereof; In the mean time, all Petitioning of any party about this business, seems to thwart some Declarations of the House of Commons, whereunto I doubt not, but they intend for the main, inviolably and unalterably to adhere. Add hereunto, that petitioning in this kind, was not long since voted breach in privilege, in them, who might justly expect, as much favour and liberty in petitioning, as any of their brethren in the Kingdom, and I have more then one reason to suppose, that the purpose and design of theirs and others, was one, and the same.
2. I dare not affirm that the Parliament hath not established a Government already, for the essentialls of it, themselves affirming that they have, and their Ordinances about rulers, rules, and persons to be ruled, (the requisita and materialls of Government) being long since extant. Now to require a thing to be done, by them, who affirm that they ⟨p. 51⟩have already done it, argues, either much weaknesse or supine negligence in our selves, not to •nderstand what is ef•ected, or a strong imputation, on those that have done it, either fraudulently, to pretend that which is false, or foolishly to averse, what they do not understand; yet though I have learned to obey as farre as lawfully • may, my judgement is exceedingly farre from being enslaved, and according to that, by Gods assistance, shall be my practice; which if it run crosse to the prescriptions of authority, it shall cheerfully submit to the censure thereof; In the mean time, all Petitioning of any party about this businesse, seems to thwart some Declarations of the House of Commons, whereunto I doubt not, but they intend for the main, inviolably and unalterably to adhere. Adde hereunto, that petitioning in this kinde, was not long since voted breach in priviledge, in them, who might justly expect, as much favour and liberty in petitioning, as any of their brethren in the Kingdom, and I have more then one reason to suppose, that the purpose and designe of theirs and others, was one, and the same.