(7$) fírm, f ei ru o- &p. 351. ait, [ Balfamon juris Greco-Romani li 2. cap. g. in Al-xii Comment Pullin ; Populism docere folic eft datum Epifcopis: & magne eccl.f.e Docreres Patriarche jure docent.] Thefe were like our Canonsashe [hews at large ; and this was in later ages whena Bithop might teach per alium. And p. 351, 3 5 2. Concfl. Trull. e. 64. docet ex Greg. Nazianz folic Epzfcopis eonve- aire concionari &fanEPas fcripturas interpretari i Prerbyteris vero non nifi Epifeopo- rum conceffione. Of the Eilhops teaching fee the numerous. citations in File- faos cap. 1. And ifany be humbled at the name Presbyteri Parochiani ufual intheCoun- cils and Fathers, as if they ware Countrey Presbyters, who preached then in other Churches ? I have before cited. á Canonwhich gave leave toPresbyters to preach in the countrey villages, intimating it was rare heretofore. 2. Filefa cur faith, ibid. p. 562, 563. [ Sedut quod res eft libere eloquar, & illo evo & an- teriore, cum Parochie vox vulgo etiam pro Dixceft ufurpatur ( that is for all the Bithops Charge ) credo Presbyteros 'Parochianos dietos footle, non aliterac frqui.e Diceeefanospronunciaret, hoc e, In laac. Parocbiafeu Dicecefr ordinates & titulatos.] Butfurely whilfl Presbyters rarely preached, there were either Churches that had no preaching (which Cannot be proved) or elfe few Affemblies that had notBithops. Obj. But thenyou malt. Lay Elders of the Presbyters. Anf. Theywere theabler fort of Chriftians ordained to the fame Minifterial or Sacerdotal Office as all true Minihers are : But few of them being Learned men, and able to make long Sermons, were imployed only as the Bi(hops afliftants, as edesare among thePresbyterians : who iftheywould but ordain thofeElders, and let them have power over the word and Sacraments, though only toexercife itunder theBithops or chief Pa(tors guidance, when there was caufe, they wouldcome neared to theancient ufe. XXIII. And it feemeth to me an evidence that the Churches then were ( ufually) but as narrow as I affert, that the Presbyters were to abide with the Bithop, and attend him in his City Church. For ifyou fuppofe them ableto Teach or guide a flock themfelves, (as fotne were fuch, as Auguftine, Macarius, .Ephrem Syrus, Tertullian, &c. ) it is fcarce credible to me that the Bithop. *Pttbefob- would fuffer filch-worthy perfons to fit among his Auditors , when there were fer;pelons' many countrey congregationsthatneeded their help. For that the Church was .ofcouncils fo fupplied withPreachers as that betides all thefe Presbyters in the Bi(hops endome, Church, .there were enow for all the red of the countrey Parithes as now, is time a 'contrary to all the intimations of Church-Hihory. And therefore when we Bifhop and read of fomany Presbyterswith the Bj(hop, before we read of many or fcarce oneDeacon, any elfcwhere, furely there were nopeople that needed them. fometime a a dF XXIV. And yet though great Cities had many with theBifho I may and aPref- Y( g g Y P Y byter,ao at add that the `paucity ofPresbyters under thegenerality of Bithops,(heweth that Arles,id their Diocefes then were but like Pariah Churches with their Chappels : Or Spelnean. elfeAurelius and the other Bi(ho s in theCarthage Council needed not have p..ç2 P been
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