Anfzv. T. Even till their days Chriftianity had not been received by the avhole Cities or Parifhes, in the greäteft part of the Empire; but (according to the liberty then given when none were forced tobe Chrittians) the Cliritti- ans were but few in many great Countries. It was long ere they were the greater number of the Inhabitants in France and Flanders ; longer in England; and longer in Germany, andHungary, and Poland ; and longer in Sweden and Denmark, &c. 2. That it was no Cathedral Society diftinót from other Con- gregations under the fame Bithop in Cyprian's time, is moft evident : Therebe- ing no fuch dütinion intimated, but contrarily all the Bithops Church or Flock-is fpokenttox And how fhouldone part of the Church come to have a right to chute and refufe the Bifhop more than all the reft ? And in all ordi- naryDiocefes it was fo longafter : But it is true that at Rome, Alexandria and the greater Churches, where the cuftom was continued, and yet the multitude ofthe people was fo great that they could not half meet in one place ; thefe that were forwardeft crowded together, and oft committed Riots and Mur- ders (as at the Elefuionof Damafur, and others,) till by this, thecuftom was changed to avoid fuch tumults -; and thefe that would not be in the Crowd flayed at home : And the neareft Neighbours commonly were they that met. Objet:&. Betdo not we fee that a whole County can meet to chafe Parliament Aden? Anfw.x. No :It isonly theFreeholders who are comparatively buta fmall part of the County. 2. It is in a Field, or Streets, andnot in a Church. 3. It is commonly to judgeof their Suffrages by comparing by the eye, themagni- tude of thedifiinét Companieswhen they feparate, or elfe by taking their Votes Man byMan in a long time, and not to do all in their hearing, and by their Coúnfel, as in this Cafe. 4. I have beenat great Affemblies for fach Ele6ti- ens of Parliament, in the Fields ; and I never tawmore together than have heard me preach inone Affembly, nor halffo many as fome LondonParifhes do contain : much lets as a Diocefs. There is a great deal more in Cyprian to prove the thing in queftion, Epiff. 3,6, to, ix, 13, x4, 26, 27, a8, 31, 33, 4o. which would be tedious to the Reader thou*d I recite it. A primordio Epifcopattu mei flatuerim nihilfine confilio veffro & fine confnfe plebis me.eprivata fententia gerere Prohibeantur offerte, alheri apoednos, d' apud confefores ipfos,. &apudplebemuniverfam caufam fuam.] Kee ftngulorum traelandä fit & limandaplenius ratio, non tántum cum Collegis mein, fed & cum plebe ipfa univerfa. Vexplebi perfuadeo,immo extorqueo, ut talespati- antur admitti Secundum veffra divina fuffragia, Conjurati & fcelerati de Eccle fa fponte f pellerent. ] By thefe and many fuch paffages it is evident that e- ven the famous Churchof Carthage, under that famous Bithop was no greater than that all Church Affairs might be treatedof in the hearingofall the Laity, and managed by theirconfent, and the Quality of eachPresbyter andCommu- nicant, and their faults fell under the Cognizance ofthe whole Church ; not as Governors, but as intereffed for their own welfare, as the words declare. VIL And
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