Dissertation Concerning the Antiquity of Churches, Section 3
SECT. 3.
Our 2d Argument is from the defect of ſufficient Teſtimonies from Scripture, of the Chriſtians having any publick appropriate places in the Apoſtles time; or from authentick Authors, of any ſuch the two firſt Centuries. Nor let any think it ſufficient to ſay, that Argumentum ab autoritate non valet negative; an Argument from authority negatively, is of no force. For in Religion, Scripture ſo argues, not only in matter of our duty, becauſe never commanded; but alſo in matter of Hiſtory, as Hebr. 7.14. Our Lord ſprang out of Juda, of which Tribe Moſes ſpake nothing concerning Prieſthood. Whence by the way, we may gather, that our Saviour never went further into the Temple, not being a Prieſt of the Tribe of Levi, than the Outward Court. And in matters of Fact ſo many Hundred Years ago, this way of arguing is generally uſed and received. As Baronius uſeth it in a like caſe, A. D. 48. and others alſo frequently. For how ſhould we know, what was done ſo long ſince, but by Hiſtory. Now in all the diligent ſearchers into Antiquity, as Euſebius, Hierom, Clemens Alexandrinus, and other Ancient Fathers and Authors, we find no footſteps of any publick Churches, the two firſt Centuries; but many againſt them.
For the Scriptures, whoſoever reads the Apoſtles Acts, which contain their Hiſtory about 32 Years; will find the Church aſſemblies ſtill in private Houſes, as c. 12. v. 12. ſo c. 20. v. 8. and to the very laſt, c. 28. v. 29, 30. ſo alſo in their Epiſtles. And the all places were indifferent to them in reſpect of holineſs, yet not of conveniency; ſo that according thereto, no doubt they were appointed; and in the heat of Perſecution, ſuch as were moſt ſecret and ſecure.
And will never find the Church therein taken for a Place. It being the general Opinion of Proteſtants, which the Learned Lutheran, Gerrard de Eccleſ. c. 2. relates. In S. literis ſignificatio Eccleſiae pro loco non occurrit; ſed progreſſu temporis factum, ut à Scriptoribus Eccleſiaſticis tandem reciperetur. Sed quilibet videt hanc appellationem eſſe impropriam, & foreign. In the Holy Scriptures, the Church is no where taken for a Place; tho in proceſs of time, it came to be ſo uſed in Eccleſiaſtical Writers. But every one ſees, the taking of it in this ſenſe, is improper and catachreſtical. Camero likewiſe, a Learned Calviniſt, in's Tract. de Eccleſia, and generally all of both Profeſſions. So that we may conclude as to the Scriptures, that however the grand Tyrant Cuſtom prevailed in after Ages, to call the Place by the name of Church, yet from the beginning it was not ſo.
And for human Teſtimonies; for the firſt Ages ſucceeding the Apoſtles, we might here produce very many, to prove the Primitive Chriſtians had no ſuch publick Churches or Temples. But in regard we ſuſtain the negative part, and our Opponents the affirmative, to whom the Proof moſt properly belongs, according to the Maxim, affirmanti incumbit probatio: And thoſe that favour our Adverſaries Opinion, will be apt to ſay, we do but beg the Queſtion; for that they have both Scripture, and good Humane Teſtimonies for them. We ſhall therefore firſt examine what they alledge; and afterwards produce ſuch Witneſſes againſt them, as we ſhall willingly ſubmit to the judgment of all impartial Men, on which ſide the Truth lies. For if they can either by Scripture, or approved Authors, mantain their cauſe, we ſhall yield it; notwithſtanding the improbability therof, from the Perſecutions the Chriſtians were under in the firſt Ages. But here we muſt profeſs, that this being matter of fact, we are not to be put off, nor ſhall we acquieſce with conjectures or probabilities, ſuch as Platina, Polid. Virgil, &c. urge, from the Apoſtles and Primitive Chriſtians zeal to promote Religion, (as if there could be none, without ſuch appropriate and conſecrated Places, as they call Churches) But there muſt be authentick Records, from approved Authors, that there were ſuch in the Apoſtles days, and the two firſt Ages after our Saviour; otherwiſe we can have no certainty of what was done at ſuch a diſtance from us, ſo many Ages agone.