11.07.2015 Views

Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS
  • No tags were found...

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

288 THE SECOND AGE OF THE MARTYR CHURCH<strong>of</strong> truth, the teaching <strong>of</strong>fice, "the making disciplesall nations."4. And the action <strong>of</strong> heresy, which was soeffective in bringing out the function <strong>of</strong> theteaching church, was not without force in extendingand corroborating the function <strong>of</strong> theruling church. <strong>The</strong> first synods <strong>of</strong> which wehave mention are those assembled in Asia Minortowards the end <strong>of</strong> the second century againstthe diffusion <strong>of</strong> Montanism.58 But what throughthe loss <strong>of</strong> records has been mentioned only inthis one case must have taken place generally,since it is obvious that as soon as erroneous doctrinesspread from one diocese to another, theywould call forth joint action against them. Sincethen heresies have been the frequent, almost theexclusive, cause <strong>of</strong> councils. <strong>The</strong> parallel isfruitful in thought, which is suggested betweenthe action <strong>of</strong> error in eliciting the more preciseexpression <strong>of</strong> the truth which it abhors, and itsaction in strengthening the governing power <strong>of</strong>the body which it assaults. In the one case andin the other the result is that which it least desiresand intends ; heresy, disbelieving and disobeying,is made to perfect the faith and build upthe hierarchy.Now to sum up our sketch <strong>of</strong> the internalhistory <strong>of</strong> the Christian Faith in the seventy-fouryears which elapse from the accession <strong>of</strong> Marcus58 Schwane, p. G83.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!