their Councils abridged 9 which is about the fifthpart or fixth as big as Martins Parifh, and about a quarter as big as Stepney Parith, and about a third or fourthpart as big as Giles Cripplegate Parilh, and not half fo big as Giles in the Fields and o_ ther Parilhes. Moreover Chryfoflome, Hom. I i. in A. p. 674. computes thepoor at Confiantinople to be about halfas many as all the other Chrifti- ans, and this in the molt flourilhing City and Age : Andby this m'éafuce they would yet fall further fhort. Itmay be you will fay, that thefe werenot the pooreft ofall that were kept bythe Church : But it's known that ever fince the timesof extraordi- nary Community, the Churches relieved all the needy according to the feveral degrees of their wants ; and thefe were fuch as were in want, though not equally, and theyare fuch poor as were diftinguilhed not only from the Rich, but alfofrom the middle fort ; and fuch as the Church took care to relieve. §. 27. And as for Alexandria, the greateft City of the Empire next Rome (as7ofephus faith, de bello 'ud.1. 5. c. ult. it is certain that inthe third Century the Chriftians had more Meeting Places for Divine Worlhip than one, and in the fourth Century had many : Epiphanius nameth divers, Haref. 69.p. 728. Arius having one wherein he preached, had that advantage to propogate his Herefie. But all know that the building of Temples began after Emperours were Chriftians, and the fair Churches which, Eufebius faith, theyhad in Dioclefhone time (till he deftroyed them) were but like our Tabernacles or private Churches, and grew to Number and Ornamentbut a little before, as Eufebius intimateth. It was a good while before there were two Churches, even in Gonfiantinople. Indeed, it is noted, as a fingularity, that they had two Churches : But they miftake, that apply that to twoMeeting Places, which is fpoken oftwo Societies, becaufe in Meletius time they had two Bithops. §. z8. But yetlet us fee howbig the ChriftianChurch was in this great City, even when it had many Chapels ; even in Athanaftus time, in the fourth Century, Tom. i. Ed. Commel. p.5 31. inhis Apology toConfiant. you may find (in words too large to beall tranfcribed) that he being accufed for atfembling the People in the Great Church, maketh this part ofhis Defence, C The confluence of the Peopleat the Eafter Solemnity was fogreat, that if theyhadmet in feveral Affemblies (orby parties)the other Churches were `fo narrow or(mall that they would havebeen in danger offuffering by the Crowd; `nor would the univerfal Harmony and Concordof the Peoplehave been fo vifible and efficacious if they hadmet in Parcels; Therefore he concludéth it better for ' the whole Multitude to meet in thatgreat Church,(being a place large enough to receive them altogether;and to have a concurrence ofthe People all with one Voice (inSymphony :) For if according to Chrift'spromife where twofhall agree ` ofany thing it (hall be done for them howprsvalent willbe the One-voice offo `numerous aPeople offembledtogether, and,laying, Amen, to God? Who therefore would not admire? Who would ;..;a count it a happinefs to fee fo great a People met together in one place? And howdid the People rejoyce tofee one another, G t whereas
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