A33359:216
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.
More particularly. 1st. It proves not a Church to be Diocesan because it consists of more than can meet together in one place, for there are Parishes in this Land that contain many hundreds or thousands more than can meet in the Parish Church, and yet are but counted single Congregations. Though multitudes in such Churches be far from proving them to be Diocesan, yet I think two instances cannot be given in the third Age of more in one Church than are in some single Congregations amongst us; nor many afterwards, till Arianism and Donatism were suppressed; which the latter was not in Africa till after the famous Conference at Carthage, Anno 410; nor the former in other parts during the 4th. Age; for though Theodosius made some sharp Declarations against them and other Heretics, yet none but the Eunomians were prosecuted, if we believe Socratesd; that Emperor gave not the least trouble to the rest, forced none to communicate with him, but allowed them their Meetings, and even in C. P. when afterwards the Arians divided among themselves, each party had several Congregations in that Citye; both that which adhered to Marinus, and that also which followed Dorothius, these keeping the Churches which they had before and the other erecting new Churches.
More particularly. 1st. It proves not a Church to be Diocesan because it consists of more than can meet together in one place, for there are Parishes in this Land that contain many hundreds or thousands more than can meet in the Parish Church, and yet are but counted single Congregations. Though multitudes in such Churches be far from proving them to be Diocesan, yet I think two instances cannot be given in the third Age of more in one Church than are in some single Congregations amongst us; nor many afterwards, till Arianism and Donatism were suppressed; which the latter was not in Africa till after the famous Conference at Carthage, Anno 410; nor the former in other parts during the 4th. Age; for though Theodosius made some sharp Declarations against them and other Hereticks, yet none but the Eunomians were prosecuted, if we believe Socratesd; that Emperour gave not the least trouble to the rest, forced none to communicate with him, but allowed them their Meetings, and even in C. P. when afterwards the Arians divided among themselves, each party had several Congregations in that City