(70) X. Another evidence is, The Great number of Bithops who out oft narrow fpaceofground, did ufuallyaffemble in the ancient Synods. I told you before out of Crab of Sylveffers number at Rome. Binius alfo hath the like words [ Sylve(fer cofegit ingremio fedisfux284.Epifcopos and that 139 of themwere ex urbe Roma vel non longe ab illa. A hundred thirty nine Bifhops in Rome and not far from it, had not fuch Diocefesas now. Cyprian faith, lib. r. Ep. 3. that Privatas was condemned inSynodo Lambe fitana by 90 Bithops which was before Chrit}ianity was countenancedby Em- perours, and were under perfecution, yea, long before Cyprian wrote that Epiflle. For the examining of every ordinary taufe of an accufed Presbyter, fex Epifcopi ex- vicinis loc£r, fix Bithops.from the neighbour places, (not from 4o orfourfcore miles diflance) were to hear and determine, and three Bifhops for the caufe of every Deacon, Coned. Afric. Can. 20. fo that no doubt but their Bithopswere as near as our Market Towns at leaf}, even when fo fewof the peoplewer'eChrit}ians asthat allthatfpace afforded but one great Con- gregation. The fixth provincial Council at Carthage had 217 Bifhops ( whereas the General Council at Trent had long but 4o. ) ACouncil of Donatiis (Hereticks not fo numerous lure as the Catholicks) at Carthage, mentioned by AuguJfine, Epifì. 68: ( about an. 308) had 270 Bifhops. And when there were fo great a number of Heretick Bifhops, how many were there of the Catholicks and Donatills and all other fe6}s let toge- ther ? This one herefie had enow to become perfecutours ofthe Catholicks, ( beating them with clubs, putting out the peoples eyes by calling vineger mixt with lime into them, dragging them in thedirt) And yetthey were the fmaller number , and complained of perfecution and fome Circumcellions killed themfelves to make the Catholicks odious as perfccutors (Occiilar aufe- runt luci, vivie auferunt beam nobisfaciuntfibi non imputant: & quad fbifaciunt noble imputantinquiunt, Clerici Flippon. ib. ad 7anuarium. ) Certainly here were Churches no bigger then, than our fmaller Parifhes. And Auguftine cont. Gaudentium faith, there were innumerable Bifhops in Africa that were Orthodox. (And it was but a corner ofAfrica that were Chriflians, and inthe RomanEmpire heremeant. ), Vitlor Vticenfis in perfecut. Vandal. lheweth that in that part of Africa 66o Bifhops fled , betides the great number murdered, imprifoned, and many to- lerated. The likemay be laid of PatriclZs Irifh" Bifhops before mentioned, and many others, who plainlywere Parochial Whops. XI. Another evidence is, The way of Strangers communicating then by wayof Communicatory Letters , or Certificates from the Church whence they carne, which were to be !hewed to the Bithopof the Church where they defired to communicate : But was it many hundred Churches that they mutt thus fatisfie? or muf} they travail to the Bifhop with their Certifi- .cate, before they communicate in any one Church within 20. 30.4g. or 111.111
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