A33359:197
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.
In the next Paragraph our Examiner argues for the great numbers of Christians at Alexandria, from the multitude of Martyrs at Thebes.
Under the Persecution of Diocletian what numbers of Christians might be at Alexandria, may be judged by the multitude of Martyrs that suffered at Thebesi, &c.
- iPag. 64.
But here he mistakes Eusebius, who gives an account not of the Martyrs which were [Greek or Hebrew], in the City Thebes, but [Greek or Hebrew], the Province Thebais: which was half of that large Kingdom, according to the ancient division of it into the upper and lower Egypt. The Superior Egypt was Thebais, the inferior was called sometimes the Delta, sometimes Egypt in a restrained sense, and this division in these terms we have in Eusebius (to go no further) a little beforek, [Greek or Hebrew], where he begins his account of the Martyrs in this Country. Now if the Christians in that Province of large extent, and comprising very many Cities may be concluded to be very numerous from the multitudes of Martyrs which suffered there; yet nothing at all can be inferred for any numbers to his purpose in the City Thebes, by which he would conclude their numerousness in Alexandria. But if M. B. had mistaken one City for so large a Country with multitudes of Cities in it, and made that mistake the ground of his reasoning; it is like our Examiner would have exposed him for it in his Preface, as he does for some lesser matters.
But here he mistakes Eusebius, who gives an account not of the Martyrs which were , in the City Thebes, but , the Province Thebais: which was half of that large Kingdom, according to the antient division of it into the upper and lower Egypt. The Superiour Egypt was Thebais, the inferiour was called sometimes the Delta, sometimes Egypt in a restrained sense, and this division in these terms we have in Eusebius (to go no further) a little before