I I o6 The State of thef:r f# Churches, &c. mong the Heathen , concerning what was done in the Chriltian Conventitcles , which they would have to be the molt abominable villanies , that were ever aeted by Mankind. Even thole who made the molt candid En- quiry intowhat they were and did , attained unto very little knowledge or certainty concerning them and their Myfteries, as is evident in the Epìflles of Trajan andPliny, with the Refcript ofAdrian unto Minucius Fundanus a- bout them. In this [tate of things, this our great and learnedPhi- lefopher, who afterwards fuffered Martyrdom about the year rho, undertook to give an account unto Antoninus Pius and Lucius, who then ruled the Roman Empire, of the Nature, Order, andWorlhip of the Chriftian Chur- ches; and that in filch an excellent manner, as that I know nothing material that can be added unto it, were an account of the fame thing to be given unto alike per- fans at this day. Wemay touch a little uponfame Heads of it. z. He declares the converton of men unto the Faith, as the foundationof all their church-order and Wor{hip. °Oaot äv weso$iao: sÿ mç-óiiwvty ecXsnSñ enkiha rtr2 úqß' npy7w AAL- a,6pAva iéPú'Th) BAct,% t.67%vwvTC!',iux£a% Te aizHV Pe ófioVTa4 cC T8 Sjs kf 7re9»NtapTnivávwv áeary b`dZ17xovTtx1 Itof "P 0-uu6t961 vwv sy, aut,veg-kdVTwv atprois. As ma- ny as areperfwaded and do believe the thing" to be true, whichare taught and fpoken by us, and take upon them- felves that they are able to live according to that Dat`rine, they are taught tofeelt of God by fafting and prayer, the pardon oftheir fore-goingfin"; and we alfo dojoyn toge- ther with them, in falling andprayerfor thatend. And herein (z.) The only means of Converfion which he in- fîfts upon, is the Preachingof the Word, or Truth of the Gofpel; wherein they efpecially Witted fl on the Doûrine mf
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