C3©9, The Learned Dr. H. H. thinketh that the Apoflles planted none in Scripture times but fngle Paflors or Bifhopc ( called alto Preob; cers) in every Church,with Deacons under them , without any other Presbyters (fubj:c`t or afïiflant) over that Church. This I conceive cannot be proved, nor fo much as the probability of it ; nay I think,at leafl a probability, if not a certainty of thecontrary may be proved, of Tome Churches. But yet it is molt likely that it was fo with many Churches. And reafon tells us, that the thing being in it felf indifferent, was fuzed by the Apoilles to the {tate ofthe particular-Churches that they planted. A (mall Church might well have a Jingle Pallor, when a large Church, efpecially in times of perfecution, when they muff affemble in feveral houles at once, required more. Some places might have many perlons fit for the Office , and force but one : Which cafes mull needs have foam Variety. S. 4.Where there are morePaflors in fuch a Church,then one, I knowofno 1ltecefty that one fhould haveany fuperiority over another: nor can I prove that it was fo from the beginning.Some Divines of the Prelatical Judgement think that this was an Or- dinance of the Apoftles, at the firi planting of fuch Churches; Others of them think that it was of their appointment, but nor aFduallì' exigent till after Scripture times. Others of them think, that as Hierom faith, it began when fa &ions role in theChurch, not by D;vine Ordination, but Ecciefiaftical agreement, for the preventing or cure of fchim. S. 5. The firft Church that we find it in, in Hiftory, is that of Alexandria. And Alexandriawas a place exceedingly given to fedition, tumults, and divifions : the contentions between Cy- ril and Oreft es, the murder of Hypatia by Peter and his compa- ny,the affault made upon Oreftes by Ammonisss'& the other Ni- trian Monks, and many fuch feats in the day es of Theophilas,Di o.;yfius, and up to the beginning, do fh:w-what they were. And Socrates faith of them exprefly, li. 7. cap. t 3 . that [ Thepeo- ple of Alexandria above all other men, are given to Schifm and contention ; forifany quarrelarife at any time among them, pre- fently hainous and horrible offences are tofollow, and the tumult is never appeafed withoutgreat blood-Jbed. ] ,fuch were the Alex asdrían,t.. , 6.
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