(79) his Converfion, unto 7erufalem ; which was threeyears; Gal. 1. i8. in the Fourth year after the Afcenfion of Chriff, there were Churches planted in all Yuclea, and Galilee, and Samaria ; Ad. 9. 3i. Neither of the two latter Provinces was equal un- to one Ordinary Diocefs. Yet were thereChurches in both of them_, and that in fo short a time after the firft Preachingof the Gofpel,as that it is impofiible they fhould be conceived tobeany other but Tingle Congregations. What is excepted or oppofed hereunto by the Reverend Dr. St. ¡hall be examined and dif proved afterwards by itfelf, that the Progrefs of our Difcourfe benot here interrupted. z. Thefe Churches were fuch, as that the Apofiles appoint- ed in them OrdinaryElders and Deacons, that might admini- fter all Ordinances unto the whole Church, and take care of all the poor. ACI. 14. 23. chap. zo. z8. Now the Care, Infpe&i- on and Labour ofOrdinary Officers, can extend itfelfno further than unto a particular Congregation. No man can adminifter all Ordinances unto a Diocefan Church. And this ordaining Elders in every Church, is the fame with ordaining them in every City, Tit. I. 5. that is in eceryTown wherein there was a Number converted unto the Faith ; as is evident from At1 14. 23. And it was in Towns and Cities ordinarily that the Gofpel was firft preached,and firft received. SuchBelievers be- ing congregated and united in the Frcfeffion of the fame Faith and fubie&ion unto the Authori y ofChrift, did conflitute fuch a Church-State as it was theWill of Chrift, they fhould have Bifhops, or Elders and Ì`eacons ordained amongft them; and were therefore as unto their State, loch Churches as he owned, 3. It is Paid ofmoft of thefe Churches exprefly that they re- fpe&ivelymet together in one place, or had their A fremblies of the whole Church,for the difcharge oftheDuties required ofthem, which is peculiar unto Coweg,ational Churches only ; fo did the Churchat 5terufalem on all occafions; Aí.15.12,, 22. ch. 1. i. s z. fee ch, 5.11, ch.61. It isof no force which is objeeted from the Multi
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