Owen - BX5085 O84x 1681

The `preface. 59 ofit, that]. cannot, faith he, but wonder that men ofVn- ders`tanding Jhould be f tisfiecd with it. But in my Judge- ment, the Author of it, was a Man ofGood Vnderffand- ing; indeed I have heard him fpoken of, as one of abfhrufe Speculations, that did not advantage Chrifcian Religion. And one hath publifhed in Print, that he is one ofthe Ol f siref'Writers this- ever he read, but never heard him beforecharged with mean and jejune Notions. Now this was St Paul, who exprefly chargeth Schifïne on the Church of Corinth, becaufe of the Divifions that were among them, namely, the Members of the fame particular Church ; fo as they could not core together in one place, in a due manner. Nor in all his Writings, doth he any where give us any other Notion ofSchfine. But, faith he, this is Jhort of that care of the Churches Peace, which Chr hath madefo great a Ditty ofhis follow- ers. But if there be noother Rule, no other Duty for the Prefervation of theChurches Peace, but only, that nofeparation be made from it, which is called Schifrne, we might have been all quiet in the Church' of Rome. Let no Man think toperfwade us, but that for the Pre- f rvationofthe Churches `Peace, it is required ofus, that we do and obfeerve all things that Chrift reguireth ofus, and that we enjoyn not the Obfervation ofwhat he bath not Commanded, on YiEfors Penalty of being excluded from Communion ; that Faith and Love and Holinefs,' he Kept and promoted in the Church, by all the waysof his Appointment ; Andwhen there things are attended unto, St. Paul's mean andjejune Notion of schifiaie, will be ofgoodufe allo. Nor was there the leaf' Appearance of any other hindofsch.fine among the Churches ofChrift until that I 2 which

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