Owen - BX5085 O84x 1681

go The State of the f rft Churches, &c. toconvince them of their fin, directing all probable means for their Cure, he never once tend, them to the Rif/lop or Church of Rome, as the Head of Vnity untoall Chu(ches; makes no mention of any Metropolitical or Diocefan Church and its Rule , or of any tingle Bifhop and his Authority. No one of any fi:ch Order Both he either commend, or condemn, or once add efs himfelf unto,with either Admonitions, Exhortations, Encouragements, or Diree`tions. He only handles the caule by the Rule of the Scripture , as it was (sated between the Church itfelfand its Elders. I take it for granted, that if there were any Church at Corinth con(fting of many Congregations in the -City and about it , or comprehenfive as Come fay of the whole Region of Achaia, that therewas a Tingle Officer or Bifhop over that whole Church. But none fuch is here mentioned. If there were any fuch, he was either De- poled by the people, or he was not. If he were Depofèd, he was only one of the Presbyters; for they were only Presbyters that wereDepofed. If he were not, why is he not once called on to difcharge his duty in curing of that Schifm, or blamed for his neglect ? Certainly there was never greater Prevarication ufed by any man, in anycaufe, than is by Clemens in this, if the fiate of the Church, its Rule and Order were fuch as Tome now pretend. For he neither lets the people know wherein their fin and Schifm did lye, namely in a separation from their Bifrop,nor doth once mention the only proper cure and remedy of all their Evils. But he knew their ltate and order too well,to infift on things that were not then in reruns natura,andwherein they were not concerned. 2. This Epiftle is written, as unto the whole Church ,tt Corinth , fo in the name of the whole Church of Rome. 'Exxxnofa, Tg .S-Fit Iroce9txéon `Pw¡c1.w,'rn'ExxXnaía .7 n9FH rupot- xo KópivOov. The Church of God which dwelleth (or fo- journeth

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