Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
scripture_n	bishop_n	call_v	presbyter_n	3,421	5	11.0026	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A54666	Antiquitas theologica & gentilis, or, Two discourses the first, concerning the original of churches and their direct or collateral endowments : the second, touching the religion of the gentiles, their temples, priests, sacrifices and other ancient rituals : work necessary for divines, lawyers, antiquaries, historians and poets / by Thomas Philipot ...	Philipot, Thomas, d. 1682.	1670 (1670)	Wing P1990; ESTC R894	37,666	180

might enlighten our knowledge as to that particular is perplexed and obscure The generally received Opinion is That Pope Evaristus under Trajan the Emperour about the Year 110. peradventure observing that too diffused and numerous a Multitude like too much fuel cast upon the flame did rather Choke and extinguish than any way multiply the heat of De●o●tion for the more regular uniform performance of Religious Offices for the future did contract those throngs of new Converts which were daily added to the Church into their several Stations and Parishes But this design of his being left crude and imperfect by his Martyrdom which happen'd not long after under the Emperour abovesaid It slumber'd in his Urn untill the Reign of Gali●nus the Emperour and then Pope Dionysius taking the advantage of a benigne and propitious Edict issued out by that Prince in favour of the Christians from whose farther persecution and torture he had not long before been deterr'd by 〈…〉 al menaces reveal'd from 〈…〉 en in many ominous and direful Prodigies reduc'd the first endevours of Pope Evaristus to accomplishment and perfection which pious work of his received both strength and improvement from the Religious undertaking of Pope Fabianus and his Successor Pope Marcellinus about the Year 314. as Bellarmine in his Chronology out of the Writings of Anastasius and Luitprandus does abundantly testifie In England this pious example had such an influence and favourable Aspect that about the Year 636. Honorius Arch-bp of Canterbury began to circumscribe the people under his Pastoral ●are and inspection within the Boundaries of their several divisions and Parishes which design of his was farther prosecuted inlarg'd and confirm'd by his successor Arch-bp Theobal● about the Year 677. In which posture and condition this Nation hath ever since continued Parishes being thus instituted there appear'd a subsequent necessity of erecting of Churches and Oratories where the Celebration of Divine Offices might multiply the growth of Christianity which was yet but in its Infancy and Minority after their first Erection and Establishment Antiquity as it is evident from several Monuments of Venerable Inscription impos'd the Name of Tituli upon them For in the Life of Pope Marcellinus we read that In Roma ille instituit 21. titulos that is in the Dialect of Elder times one and twenty Churches Now Titulus as Sanctius observes is Signum aliquod se● Monumentum quod docet latere aliquid aut accidisse cujus nolumus perire Memoriam Churches then were antiently called Tituli either from a name Metaphorically borrowed from Goods belonging to the Princes Exchequer that had some sign imprinted upon them that they might be known whose they were So the sign of the Cross was put upon the Churches to make it known they were mark'd out and distinguish'd for Gods Service or else they were nam'd Tituli because the respective Presbyters did antiently derive and receive their several Titles from them See Baronius Anno Domini 112. They were likewise stiled Memoriae Martyrum because antiently Churches were built Supra Cryptas Martyrum that is upon those Vaults and Repositories where the Dust and Reliques of the antient Martyrs were originally treasur'd up Now if you will know why Antiquity with such industrious Piety did Erect these Monuments now called Churches over the Ashes of these glorious Assertors and Champions of Christianity and after devoted them to their names these subsequent Remarques or Notes upon the first institution will sufficiently insinuate to the Reader the Reasons of this primary Consecration I. That the Memory of those excellent Persons might be so preserv'd that after they had receiv'd the glorious fate of Martyrdom it might not be bury'd in so cheap a Tomb as Oblivion Secondly That the example of such eminent Champions perpetuated in these lasting Monuments might in succeeding Ages excite others if any fresh Onset should be made on Christianity with the same magnanimity to assert it as these before them had done since they beheld so Venerable an Estimate was set upon their remembrance for dying for it Thirdly That in future times they might be rescued from an ●njurious and sacrilegious devastation when Posterity should find they were devoted to the Memory of those who had with such an inexpugnable passive fortitude defended the Doctrine of the Cross and had improv'd Christianity to a stupendious fertility with the double compost of their Ink and of ●heir Blood Having thus traced out the original institution of Churches and the Reasons of their Dedication we shall now unlock their Dores and view their contrivance within and there upon a serious Survey Antiquity we shall find cast them into this Method and Order When the indulgent and liberal Piety of the Primitive Christians began more visibly to mafest it self those Churches they erected were frequently if not generally built in an Oval Figure or like some of our Ships long and narrow and bulking out on both sides near the midst whereof the Pastophoria we may call them the Pews for Men and Women were design'd and in the midst the Bishops seat was plac'd call'd in Greek Bema from its assent and in Latine Thronus from the ●minency of it At the East end was the Altar plac'd though at Antioch its position respected the West Not far distant from the Bishops Throne was the Ambo or Reading Desk where●t the Anagnostes Read the Scriptures Old and New to the ●aity round about the Bishops seat sate the Presbyters the Deacons not sitting but standing behind him except the ●rimicerius Diaconorum who was ever to attend the Bishop and therefore stood close by him being alwayes eldest in ●ime though not preferr'd in affection The Ostiarii Church Officers so styled were designed to attend the Mens as the Deacons were oblig'd to wait the Womens Desks or Pews by whose care and inspection they were kept neat and in their just order Younger Men Women if there were any conveniency of place sate if not they were engag'd to stand the Women behind the graver Matrons the Men behind their Seniors Boys were placed with their Fathers and Girls with their Mothers See Bp. Montagues Acts and Monuments of the Church pag. 457. 458. The Absis amongst the Primitive Christians was the upper part of the Quire near the Altar where Penitents by Imposition of hands were usually absolved In the Primitive times these several stations in the several Respective Churches were consign'd to those who were blasted more or less that is gradually with ●he censure of Excōmunication First those who were called ●tantes were those who were ●ebarr'd the Lord's Table But ●s for the entrance into the Church hearing the Word ●raying with the Congregation ●hey were Entituled to equal ●iberty with other Christians ●hey might stand by and behold ●thers receive the Sacrament ●ut themselves did not par●ake of that Sacred Mystery Secondly The Succumbents were those who had admittance ●nto the Church but their sta●ion was behind the Quire or Pulpit