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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A53674 A brief vindication of the non-conformists from the charge of schisme as it was managed against them in a sermon preached before the Lord Mayor by Dr. Stillingfleet, Dean of St. Pauls. Owen, John, 1616-1683. 1680 (1680) Wing O723; ESTC R30840 37,860 60

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plead_v on_o the_o one_o side_n or_o the_o other_o and_o so_o it_o shall_v be_v here_o dismiss_v the_o especial_a charge_n here_o manage_v against_o the_o nonconformist_n be_v that_o they_o allow_v that_o to_o live_v a_o state_n of_o separation_n from_o such_o church_n as_o many_o at_o least_o of_o we_o be_v be_v a_o sin_n yet_o that_o themselves_o so_o do_v which_o be_v manifest_a in_o their_o practice_n but_o it_o may_v be_v say_v 1_o that_o this_o concession_n respect_v only_o parochial_a church_n and_o that_o some_o of_o they_o only_o but_o the_o conformity_n in_o general_n require_v of_o we_o respect_v the_o constitution_n government_n discipline_n worship_n and_o communion_n of_o the_o national_a church_n and_o diocesan_n church_n therein_o 2_o person_n who_o thus_o express_v themselves_o be_v to_o be_v allow_v the_o interpretation_n of_o their_o own_o mind_n word_n and_o expression_n for_o if_o they_o do_v judge_v that_o such_o thing_n do_v belong_v unto_o a_o state_n of_o 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and_o subservient_fw-fr unto_o their_o edification_n as_o be_v express_o affirm_v ephes._n 4._o 11_o 12_o 13_o 14._o as_o it_o shall_v seem_v a_o opinion_n opposite_a unto_o this_o notion_n of_o national_a church_n be_v examine_v and_o confute_v pag._n 17._o ibid._n it_o be_v a_o great_a mistake_n to_o make_v the_o notion_n of_o a_o church_n bare_o to_o relate_v to_o act_n of_o worship_n and_o consequent_o that_o the_o adequate_a notion_n of_o a_o church_n be_v a_o assembly_n for_o divine_a worship_n by_o which_o mean_n they_o appropriate_v the_o name_n of_o church_n to_o particular_a congregation_n whereas_o if_o this_o hold_v true_a the_o church_n must_v be_v dissolve_v as_o soon_o as_o the_o congregation_n be_v break_v up_o but_o if_o they_o retain_v the_o nature_n of_o a_o church_n when_o they_o do_v not_o meet_v together_o for_o worship_n than_o there_o be_v some_o other_o bond_n that_o unite_v they_o and_o whatever_o that_o be_v it_o constitute_v the_o church_n i_o be_o far_o 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acknowledge_v that_o there_o be_v such_o a_o state_v difference_n between_o the_o church_n of_o england_n and_o the_o nonconformist_n the_o next_o enquiry_n natural_o shall_v be_v on_o these_o two_o head_n 1._o who_o or_o what_o be_v the_o cause_n of_o this_o difference_n or_o distance_n without_o which_o we_o can_v judge_v aright_o on_o who_o the_o blame_n of_o it_o be_v to_o be_v charge_v for_o that_o all_o man_n be_v not_o present_o to_o be_v condemn_v for_o the_o withdraw_n from_o the_o communion_n of_o any_o church_n because_o they_o do_v so_o without_o a_o due_a examination_n of_o the_o cause_n for_o which_o they_o do_v it_o will_v be_v acknowledge_v by_o all_o protestant_n in_o plain_a term_n our_o enquiry_n be_v whether_o the_o cause_n hereof_o be_v on_o the_o one_o hand_n the_o imposition_n of_o term_n of_o communion_n without_o any_o obligation_n in_o conscience_n to_o make_v that_o
in_o it_o the_o saint_n whereof_o it_o be_v constitute_v with_o bishop_n and_o deacon_n phil._n 1._o 1._o but_o that_o church_n be_v so_o complete_a the_o apostle_n appoint_v other_o particular_a congregational_a church_n in_o the_o same_o province_n who_o have_v officer_n of_o their_o own_o with_o a_o power_n of_o government_n these_o he_o mention_n and_o call_v the_o church_n of_o macedonia_n 2_o cor._n 8._o 1._o 23._o wherefore_o we_o need_v no_o more_o direction_n in_o this_o matter_n then_o what_o be_v give_v we_o by_o the_o apostle_n authority_n in_o the_o name_n and_o authority_n of_o jesus_n christ_n nor_o be_v concern_v in_o the_o practice_n of_o those_o who_o afterward_o take_v another_o course_n of_o add_v believer_n from_o other_o place_n unto_o the_o church_n first_o plant_v unless_o it_o be_v in_o case_n of_o a_o disability_n to_o enjoy_v church-communion_n among_o themselves_o elsewhere_o whatever_o therefore_o be_v pretend_v unto_o the_o contrary_a we_o have_v plain_a scripture_n evidence_n and_o practice_n for_o the_o errect_v particular_a distinct_a congregation_n with_o power_n for_o their_o own_o rule_n and_o edification_n in_o the_o same_o province_n be_v it_o as_o small_a as_o those_o that_o be_v of_o samaria_n or_o galilee_n it_o can_v sure_o be_v say_v that_o these_o church_n be_v national_a whereof_o there_o be_v many_o in_o one_o small_a province_n of_o a_o small_a nation_n nor_o yet_o metropolitical_a or_o diocesan_n nor_o i_o suppose_v will_v it_o be_v deny_v but_o that_o they_o be_v entrust_v with_o power_n to_o rule_n and_o govern_v themselves_o in_o all_o ordinary_a case_n especial_o when_o in_o every_o one_o of_o they_o elder_n be_v ordain_v which_o the_o apostle_n be_v careful_a to_o see_v do_v act._n 14._o 22._o this_o be_v the_o substance_n of_o what_o we_o plead_v as_o unto_o particular_a congregation_n 3._o it_o be_v not_o probable_a that_o any_o of_o the_o first_o church_n do_v for_o a_o long_a time_n increase_v in_o any_o city_n unto_o such_o a_o number_n as_o may_v exceed_v the_o bound_n of_o a_o particular_a church_n or_o congregation_n for_o such_o they_o may_v continue_v to_o be_v notwithstanding_o a_o multiplication_n of_o bishop_n or_o elder_n in_o they_o and_o occasional_a distinct_a assembly_n for_o some_o act_n of_o divine_a worship_n and_o it_o seem_v if_o they_o do_v begin_v to_o exceed_v in_o number_n beyond_o a_o just_a proportion_n for_o their_o edification_n they_o do_v immediate_o erect_v other_o church_n among_o they_o or_o near_o they_o so_o whereas_o there_o be_v a_o mighty_a increase_n of_o believer_n at_o corinth_n act._n 18._o 10_o there_o be_v quick_o plant_v a_o distinct_a church_n at_o cenchrea_n which_o be_v the_o port_n of_o the_o city_n rom._n 16._o 1._o and_o notwithstanding_o the_o great_a number_n of_o 5000_o that_o be_v convert_v at_o jerusalem_n upon_o the_o first_o preach_v of_o the_o gospel_n yet_o be_v they_o so_o dispose_v of_o or_o so_o disperse_v that_o some_o year_n after_o this_o there_o be_v such_o a_o church_n only_o there_o as_o do_v meet_v together_o in_o one_o place_n as_o occasion_n do_v require_v even_o the_o whole_a multitude_n of_o the_o brethren_n who_o be_v call_v the_o church_n in_o distinction_n from_o the_o apostle_n and_o elder_n who_o be_v their_o governor_n act._n 15._o 4_o 12._o chap._n 21._o 22._o nor_o be_v that_o church_n of_o any_o great_a number_n when_o they_o all_o depart_v afterward_o and_o go_v out_o unto_o pella_n a_o village_n beyond_o jordan_n before_o the_o destruction_n of_o the_o people_n city_n and_o temple_n and_o though_o many_o alteration_n be_v before_o that_o time_n introduce_v into_o the_o order_n and_o rule_n of_o the_o church_n yet_o it_o appear_v that_o when_o cyprian_n be_v bishop_n of_o the_o church_n at_o carthage_n that_o the_o whole_a community_n of_o the_o member_n of_o that_o church_n do_v meet_v together_o to_o determine_v of_o thing_n that_o be_v for_o their_o common_a interest_n according_a unto_o what_o be_v judge_v to_o be_v their_o right_n and_o liberty_n in_o those_o day_n which_o they_o can_v not_o have_v do_v have_v they_o not_o all_o of_o they_o belong_v unto_o the_o same_o particular_a church_n and_o congregation_n but_o these_o thing_n may_v be_v plead_v elsewhere_o if_o occasion_n be_v give_v thereunto_o but_o yet_o 4._o i_o must_v say_v that_o i_o can_v discern_v the_o least_o necessity_n of_o any_o positive_a rule_n or_o direction_n in_o this_o matter_n nor_o be_v any_o such_o thing_n require_v by_o we_o on_o the_o like_a occasion_n for_o this_o distribution_n of_o believer_n into_o particular_a congregation_n be_v that_o which_o the_o nature_n of_o the_o thing_n itself_o and_o the_o duty_n of_o man_n with_o respect_n unto_o the_o end_n of_o such_o church_n do_v indispensible_o require_v for_o what_o be_v the_o end_n of_o all_o church_n for_o which_o they_o be_v institute_v be_v it_o not_o the_o edification_n of_o they_o that_o do_v believe_v they_o will_v find_v themselves_o mistake_v who_o suppose_v that_o they_o be_v design_v to_o be_v subservient_fw-fr unto_o the_o secular_a interest_n of_o any_o sort_n of_o man_n what_o be_v the_o mean_v appoint_v of_o christ_n in_o such_o church_n for_o that_o end_n be_v they_o not_o doctrine_n and_o fellowship_n break_v bread_n and_o prayer_n that_o be_v the_o joint_a celebration_n of_o the_o ordinance_n of_o christ_n in_o the_o gospel_n in_o preach_v the_o word_n administer_a the_o sacrament_n mutual_a watchfulness_n over_o one_o another_o and_o the_o exercise_n of_o that_o discipline_n which_o he_o have_v appoint_v unto_o his_o disciple_n i_o desire_v to_o know_v whether_o there_o be_v any_o need_n of_o a_o new_a revelation_n to_o direct_v man_n who_o be_v oblige_v to_o preserve_v church_n in_o their_o use_n unto_o their_o proper_a end_n to_o take_v care_n of_o such_o thing_n as_o will_v obstruct_v and_o hinder_v they_o in_o the_o use_n of_o mean_n unto_o that_o end_n of_o their_o edification_n whereas_o therefore_o it_o be_v manifest_a that_o ordinary_o these_o mean_n can_v be_v use_v in_o a_o due_a manner_n but_o in_o such_o church_n as_o wherein_o all_o may_v be_v acquaint_v with_o what_o all_o be_v concern_v in_o the_o very_a institution_n itself_o be_v a_o plain_a command_n to_o plant_v erect_v and_o keep_v all_o church_n in_o such_o a_o state_n as_o wherein_o this_o end_n may_v be_v attain_v and_o therefore_o if_o believer_n in_o any_o place_n be_v so_o few_o or_o so_o destitute_a of_o spiritual_a gift_n as_o not_o to_o be_v able_a of_o themselves_o jont_o to_o observe_v these_o mean_n for_o their_o edification_n it_o be_v their_o duty_n not_o to_o join_v by_o themselves_o in_o a_o church-state_n but_o to_o add_v themselves_o as_o member_n unto_o other_o church_n and_o so_o when_o they_o be_v so_o many_o as_o that_o they_o can_v orderly_o communicate_v together_o in_o all_o these_o ordinance_n in_o the_o way_n of_o their_o administration_n appoint_v in_o the_o scripture_n unto_o the_o edification_n of_o they_o it_o be_v their_o duty_n by_o virtue_n of_o the_o divine_a institution_n of_o church_n to_o dispose_v of_o their_o church-state_n and_o relation_n into_o that_o way_n which_o will_v answer_v the_o end_v of_o it_o that_o be_v into_o more_o particular_a church_n or_o congregation_n i_o speak_v not_o these_o thing_n in_o opposition_n unto_o any_o other_o church-state_n which_o man_n may_v erect_v or_o establish_v out_o of_o a_o opinion_n of_o its_o usefulness_n and_o conveniency_n much_o less_o against_o that_o communion_n which_o ought_v to_o be_v among_o those_o particular_a church_n or_o their_o association_n for_o their_o common_a rule_n and_o government_n in_o and_o by_o their_o officer_n but_o only_o to_o manifest_v that_o those_o of_o the_o nonconformist_n which_o be_v suppose_v to_o adhere_v unto_o the_o institution_n of_o particular_a church_n in_o a_o peculiar_a way_n do_v not_o thereby_o deserve_v the_o imputation_n of_o so_o great_a and_o intolerable_a a_o gild_n as_o they_o be_v here_o charge_v withal_o and_o whereas_o i_o have_v hereby_o discharge_v all_o that_o i_o design_v with_o respect_n unto_o the_o first_o sort_n of_o nonconformist_n as_o they_o be_v here_o distinguish_v i_o may_v here_o give_v over_o the_o pursuit_n of_o this_o argument_n but_o because_o i_o seek_v after_o truth_n and_o satisfaction_n alone_o in_o these_o thing_n i_o shall_v a_o little_a far_o consider_v what_o be_v offer_v by_o this_o reverend_a author_n unto_o the_o same_o purpose_n with_o what_o we_o have_v pass_v through_o so_o therefore_o he_o proceed_v pag._n 26._o to_o pag._n 27._o if_o that_o of_o which_o we_o read_v the_o clear_a instance_n in_o scripture_n must_v be_v the_o standard_n of_o all_o future_a age_n much_o more_o may_v be_v say_v for_o limit_v church_n to_o private_a family_n then_o to_o particular_a congregation_n for_o do_v we_o not_o read_v of_o the_o church_n that_o