Diocesan Churches Not Yet Discovered in Primitive Times, Title page – Preface
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 at the Bible and three Crowns at the lower end of Cheap-ſide near Mercers Chappel 1682.
Errata.
PAge 59. l. 4. r. Sirmond. p. 67. l. 33. r. to. p. 76. r. Euodius. p. 80. l. 14. r. oratorum. p. 86. l. 16. r. Congregations. p. 87. l. 27. r. Biſhops. p. 95. l. 2. r. foreign, p. ult. l. 9. r. leſs. beſides miſ-accenting ſome Greek words, and other miſ-pointings:
THE PREFACE.
DIſſenters are accuſed of Schiſm by ſome of this Church, both theſe and the other are branded not only as Schiſmaticks, but as Hereticks by the Papiſts; who upon this account judge us unworthy to live, and had actually deſtroyed both together, if God in Mercy had not diſcover…d their deviliſh Plot. The diſcovery gave them ſome interruption, and put them upon an after-game, to retrieve what had miſcarryed. And this was ſo to divide us, as that our ſelves ſhould help them in their deſign to ruine us all, when they had leſs hopes to do it alone. In purſuance hereof ſuch influence they have had upon too many, as to raiſe in them a greater averſation to Diſſenters than to Papiſts. Theſe the Conſpirators count their own, and think they may well do ſo, ſince they are too ready to concurre with them in their deſign to exterminate thoſe, who are true Proteſtants in every point, and differ no more from this Church than thoſe in France do, who by the ſame Counſels are at this time in extreme danger to be utterly extirpated. Others are ſo far prevailed with as to make uſe of one of the ſharpeſt weapons they have againſt diſſenting Proteſtants, and that is the charge of Schiſme, lately renewed and re-inforced.
In theſe hard circumſtances, while we do what we can againſt the common Enemy, we are put to ward off the blows of ſuch as (notwithſtanding ſome preſent diſtemper) we will count our Friends. Amongſt other expedients, ſufficient to ſecure us againſt this attaque, it was thought not unuſeful, to anſwer the allegations out of Antiquity, concerning two points, wherein only the Antients were made uſe of to our prejudice, viz. 1. For Dioceſan Churches, and then 2ly. Againſt the Election of Biſhops by the people in the primitive times. Something was performed and publiſhed in reference to both theſe in a late diſcourſe. One half of which, where the latter is diſcuſſed, concerning the popular Elections of Biſhops, hath yet paſſed without any exception that I can ſee or hear of; yet this alone is enough to defend us againſt the aforeſaid charge: For thoſe who will not make the primitive Church Schiſmatical, must not condemn any as Schiſmaticks for declining ſuch Biſhops as that Church would not own.
Againſt the former part of the Diſcourſe, concerning Dioceſan Churches, ſome exception hath been made, but very little; a late Author in his Preface to a Treatiſe of another Subject, hath touched about 5 pages in 40. but ſo as he hath done them no more harm, than another, who to find one fault therein, runs himſelf into two or three, about foreign, render'd indefinitely according to the mind of the Author who uſes it, and the moſt common uſe of it.
I diſparage not the Gentleman's Learning who attaques me in his Preface, he ſhews that which, (with anſwerable care and Judgment,) might be ſerviceable in a cauſe that deſerves it. But much more than he ſhews, would not be enough to ſupport what he would establiſh. And he might have forborn the vilifying of thoſe, who are known to be Maſters of much more valueable Learning, than appears in either of us. The neglect of ſome accurateneſs in little things, remote from the merits of the cauſe, in one who is not at leiſure to catch flies, is no argument that he is destitute of Learning.
I complain not of his proceeding with me; but am obliged by him, that he treats me not with ſo much contempt as he does others, who leſs deſerve it. I wiſh he had dealt more temperately with M. B. it would have been more for his reputation, and no prejudice to his undertaking; a good cauſe, when it hath a ſufficient Advocate, does not need any undecent ſupplements.
After I have cleared my Diſcourſe front this Gentleman's exceptions, I thought it not impertinent to ſhew what in reaſon cannot be counted competent proofs of Dioceſan Churches; that if any will purſue this debate farther, instead of oppoſing us, they may not beat the Air, and amuſe thoſe that enquire after truth; with what is inſignificant. Withal I have given an account of what other allegations out of Scripture and Antiquity this Author hath brought in other parts of his Treatiſe for ſuch Churches; and ſhew'd that there is no evidence in them, as to the purpoſe they are alledged for.
In ſhort, I find nothing in this Author, or any other before him, which may ſatisfie a judicious and impartial man, that in the two firſt Ages of Christianity any Biſhop had more than one particular Church or Congregation for his proper charge; or that in the third Age, there was any Biſhop which had a Church conſisting of more than are in ſome one of our Pariſhes, unleſs it was the Church of Rome (nor is there ſufficient evidence produced for that:) Or that in the middle of the fourth Age there were 4 Churches, each of which compriſed more than could aſſemble in one place (though if they had contained more, that might be far enough from making them Dioceſans;) Or that afterwards, within the time of the four firſt General Councils, where there were ſeveral Churches belonging to one Biſhop, he did exerciſe jurisdiction over them alone, or only by himſelf and his Delegates. It will be time enough to cenſure us as Schiſmaticks for declining Dioceſan Churches, when they have made it appear, that there was ſuch, in the best ages of Christianity: (which not appearing, the cenſure falls upon the primitive Christians, from whom it will ſlide of upon themſelves.) If they will forbear us, till this be performed, we need deſire no more. Ʋnleſs we may prevail with thoſe who ſincerely profeſs themſelves Proteſtants, to regard the ſecuring themſelves and their Religion from the destructive deſigns of the Papiſts, more than thoſe things which are not properly the concern either of Proteſtant or of Religion.
As for thoſe who prefer the Papiſts before Diſſenters, and revile theſe as worſe, though they differ in no one point of Religion from other true Proteſtants: We need not wonder if we meet with no better treatment from them, then from declared Papists; ſince by ſuch preference they too plainly declare the Proteſtant Religion to be worſe than Popery, in their account. The following ſheets have lain by me many Months, and had done ſo still; but that the importunity of ſome, and the miſrepreſenting of my ſilence by others, forced me to publiſh them.