32.Owen before Parliament

Owen before Parliament: "I plead for Presbyterial Government in Churches!"

Practically throughout the Westminster Assembly of which he himself was not a member, Owen was still a Presbyterian and not yet a Congregationalist. Thus on 29th April 1646 he proclaimed (VIII:26-52) to the Parliament: "In the very morning of the Gospel, the Sun of righteousness shone upon this land; and they say the first potentate on the Earth that owned it, was in Britain.... God will again water His garden, once more purge his vineyard, once more of his own accord He will take England upon liking.... I plead for Presbyterial Government in Churches.... "We judge it needless to express ourselves...unless to such as shall be so simple or malicious as to ask whether this way be that of the Presbyterians or Independents.... Civil divisions of men that may conveniently be taught by one Pastor and ruled by Elders...as Presbyterians esteem them...receive no injury, nor are abridged of any of their privileges."

Owen’s later editor, W.H. Goold, was himself sympathetic to Congregationalism. So it is not surprising that Goold here says (VIII:2) of Owen: "There can be no doubt...that he was at this time undergoing the change of view which led him in the end to profess Congregationalism" alias (sic) ’Independency.’