Baxter - Houston-Packer Collection BX5151 .B3 1659

onefixed Bifliop, then tre have anyjufi caufe tofuppole that thepar - .ticular Political Churches in Scripture times confified but of one fuch flated Congregation. But the Antecedent is true, thereforefo is the Cenfequent. As for theNeevEpifcopal Divines that fay Therewerenofu6- jea Presbyters in Scripture times: I fuppofe according to their principles they will grant me all this, as is aforefaid And for others , the :Inflames that they bring to thecontrary fhould be briefly confidered. The great fwaying Inflance ofall ( which did fomecime prevail withme to be my fell ofanother mind ) is the Numerous Church at yerufalem : Ofwhich its Paid that three thoufand were converted at once,and five thoufand at ano- ther time, andfre word mightily grew and prevailed, and dai- ly fuchwere added to the Church as fhould be faved : to which forne add thementionof theMiriades of believing Jews yet zeal. ous of the Law , which the brethren mentioned to Paul, Atis z r. ao. And the inflance ofEphefus and Rome come next. But I remember how largely this bufìnefs is debated between the late Aff_mbly at wefiminfler and the Diffenting Brethren that I think it unmeet to interpole in itany further then to annex theee few coníiderations following. z. That all that is faid on that fide, cloth not provecertainly that that one Church at ycrufalem was the eighth part fo big as files Cripple-,gate Parifl,, or thefifth part fo big as Stepney or Se- pulchres,nor neer fo big as Plimoth or Tome other. Country Pa- rifhe?. z.That it is psft doubt that the magnitude of that Body of Believers thenat '/erufalem,waspartly acccideatal,and the mem- bers cannot at all be proved fettledcóhabitants,nor that Church as in its firil unordered Mils be the proved to. be the fitten Hebedi ehaé pattern for imitation. 3.ThatChrift h ith not punctually decermin- Churches ed howmany members (hall be in a particularChurch.q.But the Ihouldbeno ends ( being perfonal holycommunion) arethe Rule by which biggerthen humane prudence mutt determine it. 5.That its fitter one Church hattheRu- it my in fiance give way, tomany in point of our imitation, then of ma- watch all; ny to that one, ceterisparibus. 6. That its known among us that their fouls as one that mutt give account of all. On which text D. fer. Taylor inhis late "ookof Repentance,Pref.' faith [ 1 am lure we cannot give account of 'fouls of whichwe have no NotIcc ] And fo pref eth to perfonal condo t. Let them then be Bithops of nobigger a Diocefs then they can ta' e ft.ch perfonal notice and condu& of, left they judge themfelves. ?4l more

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