A33359:21
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.
The Church of Carthage by the fierce persecutions in Cyprian's time (which is the time we speak of) was brought so low, and reduced to so very few, as if it had been but new converted, and how was it in a settled and flourishing condition, when it was so lamentably wasted, and still harassed one year after another? or who can believe ⟨p. 2⟩it, that reads Cyprian lamenting; Pressurae istius tam turbidam vastitatem, quae gregem nostrum maxima ex parte populata est, adhue & usque populatur, and that they were positi inter plangentium ruinas, et timentium reliquias, inter numerosam & languentium stragem, et exiguam stantium paucita•em? (a)Was not this much the case of the Apostolical Churches, unless this of Carthage was worse, and so less for our Author's advantage? Or if this were otherwise, the Churches in Nazianzen's time were not newly converted, but settled long before, and in a flourishing condition; which yet cannot be denied to have had more Presbyters than we count needful. So that this was the practise in every condition of the Church, whether flourishing or not.
The Church of Carthage by the fierce persecutions in Cyprians time (which is the time we speak of) was brought so low, and reduced to so very few, as if it had been but new converted, and how was it in a setled and flourishing condition, when it was so lamentably wasted, and still harrassed one year after another? or who can believe ⟨p. 2⟩it, that reads Cyprian lamenting; Pressurae istius tam turbidam vastitatem, quae gregem nostrum maxima ex parte populata est, adhue & usque populatur, and that they were positi inter plangentium ruinas, et timentium reliquias, inter numerosam & languentium stragem, et exiguam stantium paucita•em? (a)Was not this much the case of the Apostolical Churches, unless this of Carthage was worse, and so less for our Author's advantage? Or if this were otherwise, the Churches in Nazianzen's time were not newly converted, but setled long before, and in a flourishing condition; which yet cannot be denyed to have had more Presbyters than we count needful. So that this was the practise in every condition of the Church, whether flourishing or not.