A33359:326
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
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.
However it had been an unpardonable injury to Eusebius, to have rendered it so in this place; as if he would have deluded the World with a most palpable untruth, which both he, and all men acquainted with the state of the Church in those times, know to be so. For this make him say that ten thousand Bishops ⟨image 64⟩met in Council at Antioch in the third Age; when as he never knew a Synod of six hundred Bishops in the fourth Age, while he lived; though then Bishops were far more numerous, and had all encouragement to meet in greatest numbers. This makes him signify, that ten thousand Bishops assembled in the skirts of the East part of the Empire: When as their was not near so many (this Gentleman is concerned to maintain there was not one thousand) in the whole Christian World.
However it had been an unpardonable injury to Eusebius, to have rendred it so in this place; as if he would have deluded the World with a most palpable untruth, which both he, and all men acquainted with the state of the Church in those times, know to be so. For this make him say that ten thousand Bishops ⟨image 64⟩met in Councel at Antioch in the third Age; when as he never knew a Synod of six hundred Bishops in the fourth Age, while he lived; though then Bishops were farr more numerous, and had all encouragement to meet in greatest numbers. This makes him signifie, that ten thousand Bishops assembled in the skirts of the East part of the Empire: When as their was not near so many (this Gentleman is concerned to maintain there was not one thousand) in the whole Christian World.
This is more than enough to show that there is sufficient warrant to Translate [Greek or Hebrew], Thousands more than once; though that it is in that discourse (which he stiles a little Pamphlet) so translated more then once, is another of his mistakes. And a third (all in two lines) is that the Author grounds his Argument on it. Whereas those that view the passage, and the occasion of it, will see it had been more for his advantage to have translated it ten thousands. He that can allow himself to write at this rate, may easily be voluminous, and look too big to be despised, as a writer of little Pamphlets.