A33359:117
Diocesan churches not yet discovered in the primitive times
Diocesan churches not yet discovered in the primitive times, or, A defence of the answer to Dr. Stillingfleets allegations out of antiquity for such churches against the exceptions offered in the preface to a late treatise called A vindication of the primitive church, where what is further produced out of Scripture and ancient authors for diocesan churches is also discussed.Diocesan churches not yet discovered in the primitive times, or, A defence of the answer to Dr. Stillingfleets allegations out of antiquity for such churches against the exceptions offered in the preface to a late treatise called A vindication of the primitive church, where what is further produced out of Scripture and antient authors for diocesan churches is also discussed.
London: printed for Thomas Parkhurst, 1682
Diocesan Churches not yet discovered in the Primitive times.
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.
To show that there were more Bishops in the Region of Hippo, than St. Austin, besides particular instances (which he passes by) I alleged a passage of his where the Donatists were desired to meet together with the Catholic Bishops, that were in that Region, and who there suffered so much by the Donatists: to this he answers, That these Bishops who are said to be in Region Hipponensi, were not the Bishops of that Region, but some Bishops of the Province met together there.
To shew that there were more Bishops in the Region of Hippo, than St. Austin, besides particular instances (which he passes by) I alledged a passage of his where the Donatists were desired to meet together with the Catholick Bishops, that were in that Region, and who there suffered so much by the Donatists: to this he answers, That these Bishops who are said to be in Regione Hipponensi, were not the Bishops of that Region, but some Bishops of the Province met together there.
But that these were Bishops of the Province met together there, is a mere conjecture of his own, without the least ground either in this passage or any other in that Epistle. It will not be hard to answer any thing at this rate. If there had been a Provincial Council then held in that Region, there might have been some pretence for what he says; but there is not any hint of this in the whole Epistle. That which is desired is a Meeting for conference, Hoc est ergo desiderium nostrum, &c. Primum si fieri potest ut cum Episcopis nostris pacificè conferatis—, ideo nos confer volumus—, and the prime occasion of it was the outrages committed in that Region by the Donatists, wherein the Bishops of that place were particularly concerned. This is signified, ⟨p. 34⟩as in other parts of the Epistle, so particularly in the passage cited, Episcopos nostros qui sunt in Regione Hipponensi, ubi tanta mala patimur. This Meeting was to be with the Catholic Bishops upon the place, in Region Hipponensi, not any to be called from other parts. And these words seem brought in to prevent an objection which the Donatists might make against a more general, or more public meeting, as that which might bring them in danger of the Laws in force against them; An fortè istae leges Imperatoris vos non permittunt nostros Episcopos convenire, and then immediately follows these words in answer to it, Ecce interim Episcopos nostros qui sunt in Regione Hipponensi, &c. so that this to me seems the plain sense of both Objection and answer; If because of the Laws you dare not meet us in a more General or Provincial Council, yet give a Meeting to the Bishops of this particular Region, where there can be no apprehension of danger. All which makes me judge, what he says concerning the Bishops of the Province as here intended, to be no better than an Evasion.