( 69) VII. The next Evidence is this : In the firft Age; it is very fairly proved by Do6tor Hammond, that there wereby the Apoftles'more Bifhops and Churches than one in many Cities themfelves : And if one City had more than one Church- and Bithop, then much more many diflant places, in Towns and Countries. That oneCity had more than one he fheweth'by the diftinélion- of Jews and Gentiles Churches : As Peter was appointed chiefly for the Jews,, and Paul chiefly for the Gentiles, fo he theweth it very probable, that at Rome,. Antioch, and other places theyhad feveral Churches. And thus he reconcileth the great differencesabout Linus, Clemens and Cletus orAnacletur. And efpe= cially on this reafon, that they had not the fame Language. And indeed when in great Cities there areChriftians of divers Languages, it is neceffary that they be of divers Congregations, unlefs you will llave them Hear, as the Papifis will have them Pray, theyknow not what. And though Come might fay, that- though they be ofdivers Affemblies, yet they might have onely One Shop to Rule them : I anfwer, o. Dr. Hammond is more ingenuous; and acknow- ledges that the diverÇties of codgregations and languages. inferred a diverfity, of- Churches and Bifhops with their diftiné Clergy. 2. And all Antiquity made Preaching or Teaching his flock as effential to the Bifhops office as Go- verning them (ofwhichnext: ) But he could not teach feveral Churches . whole lángdage he underffood-not.. VIII. Antiquity made the. threeparts ofthe Bifhops office leaching, Worfhipà ping, and Governing,to' beofthe fame extent as to thefubjeél.fociety under hum,, It was ope and the famé Church which he was ordinarily to reach, to guide in wörfhip (, prayers, praife, facrament) and to Rule by difcipline ('fuppofing ífill that we fpeak ofa mcer Bihop and not an Archbishop ì I thould'wearythe Reader tocite numerous teftimonies for fo notoriousa thing. But it is known that the laid Bi:hop neither is nor can be the Ordinary Teacher , andGuide in worthip'to" a Diocefe of a multitude of Churches, but tooneor few at mot}: And he that perufetlaancient writers, thall find that the Bithop was not only to be a rare or extraordinary Teacher of his whole flock, but the O;divaryone : not only to fend others, but to doit himfelf; till the enlarge- ment of.Diocefes changed thetuftome. IX.-Another evidence is this: In the finti two Centuries, Deacons and Bifhops were ever officers in the fame Church: But Deacons were never then . officers in more Churches (or- flared affemblies that. had Sacramental Com, munion) than one: therefore Bithops were not officers in more. No proof: can be given of any Deacons that had the care (in their places) of many Churches; Parithes, or Societies of Chritlians. AncL when Diocefes were, enlarged, it is notablethat the 'Presbyter thatwas the oculoos Epifcopi in thç. Dioccíe is- called the Archdeacon: Becaufe originallyhe was but indeeda "Dea con, the chief Deacon who was with the Bifhop in one and the fame Church ;." It. being,then-.inaosdítoem'£or a;Deacon to belong to many,,: X . Another:
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