Review of the True Nature of Schism, Title page – Dedication
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.
foreign.
2 Tim. 2. 24.
foreign:
Tit. 1. 7.
OXFORD, Printed by HENRY HALL Printer to the UNIVERSITY, for THOMAS ROBINSON. M. DC. LVII.
Chriſtian Reader.
IT is now about three weekes ſince, that there was ſent unto me, a book intituled, independency a great ſchiſme; as the frontiſpeece farther promiſeth, undertaken to be mannaged againſt ſomething written by me, in a treatiſe about the true nature of ſchiſme, publiſhed about a yeare agoe; with an addition of a charge of inconſtancy in opinion, upon my ſelfe: of the one, and the other, the enſueing diſcourſe will give a farther and full account. Coming unto my hands at ſuch a ſeaſon, wherein, as it is knowne, I was preſſed with more then ordinary occaſions of ſundry ſorts, I thought to have deferred the examination of it, untill farther leaſure might be obtained, ſuppoſing that ſome faire advantage would be adminiſtred by it, to a farther Chriſtian debate, of that diſcovery of truth, and tender of peace, which in my Treatiſe I had made. Engaging into a curſory peruſall of it, I found the Reverend Authors deſigne, and diſcourſe, to be of that Tendency, and nature, as did not require, nor would admit of any ſuch delay: His manifold miſtakes in apprehending the intention of my Treatiſe and of the ſeveralls of it His open preſumption of his owne principles, as the ſourſe and ſpring of what pretends to be argumentative in his diſcourſe, arbitrarily inferring from them, without the leaſt attempt of proofe, whatever tenders its aſſiſtance to caſt reproach on them with whom he hath to do, his neglect in providing a defence for himſelfe by any principles not eaſily turned upon him, againſt the ſame charge which he is pleaſed to mannage againſt me: His avowed laying the foundation of his whole fabrick, in the ſand of notoriouſly falſe ſuppoſitions, quickly delivered me from the thoughts of any neceſſity to delay the conſideration of what he tendred to make good the Title of his diſcourſe. The open and manifeſt injury done, not only to my ſelfe, in laying things to my charge which I know not, lading me with reproaches, tending to a rendring of me odious to all the miniſters and Churches in the world, not agreeing with me in ſomefew things concerning Goſpell adminiſtrations, but alſo to all other Churches and perſons of the ſame judgment with my ſelfe, called for a ſpeedy account of the true ſtate of the things contended about.
Thou haſt therefore here Chriſtian Reader the product (through the grace of him who ſupplyeth ſeed to the ſower) of the ſpare houres of foure or five daies, in which ſpace of time this enſuing diſcourſe was begun and finiſhed: Expect not therefore any thing from it, but what is neceſſary for the refutation of the book, whereunto it is oppoſed; and as to that end and purpoſe, I leave it to thy ſtricteſt judgment. Only I ſhall deſire thee to take notice, that having kept my ſelfe to a bare defence, I have reſolvedly forborne all recharge on the Presbyterian way, either as to the whole of it, whence by way of diſtinction it is ſo called, or as to the differences in judgment and practiſe of them who profeſſe that way, among themſelves, which at this day, both in this and the neighbour nation, are more and greater, then any that our Author hath as yet been able to find amongſt them whom he doth principally oppoſe. As the enſuing ſheets were almoſt wrought of at the preſſe, there came to my hand a Vindication of that eminent ſervant of God▪ Mr John Cotton, from the unjuſt imputations and charge of the Reverend perſon with whom I have now to do, written by himſelfe not long before his death; The opportunity of publiſhing that diſcourſe, with the enſueing, being then loſt, I thought meet to let the Reader know, that a ſhort ſeaſon will furniſh him with it. Farewell, and love, truth, and peace.
Ch: Ch: Coll: OXON: July: 9. 1657.