A33359:267
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.
What he subjoins is very surprising and must seem 1strange to those who are acquainted with the state of Church in those times, that the Christians were the better half of the Roman Empire, that they were the major part every where, but in Rome more eminently. This hath no good warrant from ancient Authors, no, not from Tertullian, though he writ many years after Commodus. He like an Orator draws something bigger than the life (as our Author says of Nazianzen, pag. 137.) and must have allowance on this account by those who will not be injurious to him. In that very Age wherein Commodus reigned, it is said the Christians were so often slaughtered that few could be sound in Rome who professed the name of Christr. And near 150 years after, when Constantine had reigned near 20 years in Rome the generality ⟨p. 84⟩of the Inhabitants showed such disaffection to Christianity, as that is given for one reason why he transferred the seat of the Empire to Byzantiums.
What he subjoyns is very surprizing and must seem 1strange to those who are acquainted with the state of Church in those times, that the Christians were the better half of the Roman Empire, that they were the major part every where, but in Rome more eminently. This hath no good warrant from antient Authors, no, not from Tertullian, though he writ many years after Commodus. He like an Oratour draws something bigger than the life (as our Author sayes of Nazianzen, pag. 137.) and must have allowance on this account by those who will not be injurious to him. In that very Age wherein Commodus reigned, it is said the Christians were so often slaughtered that few could be sound in Rome who professed the name of Christr. And near 150 years after, when Constantine had reigned near 20 years in Rome the generality ⟨p. 84⟩