A33359:54
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.
To which he answers, that the number of Heretics and Schismatics was inconsiderable, and will not except the Arians or Novatians. For the Arians, he says, they had not yet made a formal Separation.
To which he answers, that the number of Hereticks and Schismaticks was inconsiderable, and will not except the Arians or Novatians. For the Arians, he saies, they had not yet made a formal Separation.
But if they did not separate themselves, the Church would have them separated, and did exclude them from communion, and withstood Constantine's importunity for their admission, both here and in other places: Athanasius was threatened by Eusebius of Nicomediaa, and banished by the Emperor for this cause among others. And Alexander being secured by Arius his death from admitting him to Communion, was the occasion of this passage in Theodoret which gives our Author so much trouble. Now the Arians being debarred from communion, lessened the Bishop's Church, both here and elsewhere, as much as if they had separated themselves. And they were numerous here, this being the place where they had greatest favour; in Constantine's Edict against the Heretics whose meetings he would have suppressed, the Arians were not mentioned when the other are namedb. Socrates writes that the People in this City was divided into two Parties the Arians and the Orthodox, they had continually sharp bickerings, but while Alexander lived the Orthodox had the better; as soon as he was dead (which was *while Constantine lived) it seems they appeared equal, for the contest, says he, was dubious, [Greek or Hebrew] c. In Nazianzen's time so far they overtopped the Orthodox, that this great Diocesan Church appeared but in the form of a private meeting, held in a very little house, where he kept a Conventicle with them, [Greek or Hebrew], so Sozomend