.a capable offeeingand knowing his face.not only by parts; but as Churches. And its likely tholeChurches that praifed Luke, and Pent himwith Paulas their chofen meffenger., were fuch as could meet is choofe him, and not fuch as our Dioceffesare, i Cor.if. I, 2. Paul ,gives order both to the Church of Corinth, and the Churches ofGalatia , that :,upon the Lods day at the Affembly (as it is ordinarily expounded)the' (hould give in their part for the relief of Churchesof yudea. So that it feems moll like- ly that bemakes [Churches ] and fuch Affemblies tobeall one, 4t%s 14. 23. They ;ordained these Elders,Churchby Church,or in every Church. Here it is confeffed by thofe we plead again{(, that E,Iders fignifi.e not any (ubjeft Elders having no power of Ordination or Government ; And to fay that by Elders in each Church is meant only oneElder in each Church is to for- fake the letter of the text without any proved Nece(lity : We fuppofe it therefore fafer to believeaccording to the firli fence of the words, that it was Elders in every Church,, that is, more then one in every Church that were ordained_ And what fort ofChurches thefewere, appears in the following verles, where evenof the famous Churchof Antioch its laid, herfe 27.when they 'were come and badgathered the Church together,they rehearfed all that Godhaddone by them --- So that its plain that this Church wasa Congregation to whom they might make fuch rehearfal. And Chap. i,. 3. Its faid that they werebrought on their way by the Church.: And if it be not meant of all,but apart ofthe Church, .yet it intimateth what is aforefaid. Toconclude, though many of thefe texts may be thought to (peak doubtfully, yet confider r. That fome domoll certainly declare that it-was particular Eated Affemblies that were there called Churches, even Governed Churches, having their Ofü- ,cers prefent. 2. That there is no certainproof ofany one par- .1 ticular Political Church that confinedof many fuch Elated Af-- fesablies. 3. That therefore the Texts that will bear an expo fition either way mull be expounded by the certain,and not by the uncertain texts; fo that I may argue thus. if inall the New Teflament the word [.Church] do often ligniflefated worfbipping jingle Afemblies, andoften isufed fo ,4s may admit that interpretation ; And is never once ',fed certainly tte fsgr ifie may particular f acedwor, hipping Affemblies ruled by one .
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