o .The Statee f the RI Churches, &c. Sias óvsi ivap,ts cui ávairiptaret. The Paßor again, accor- ding to hisability or powerpoureth forth or fends uppray- ers, thepeople all joyfullycrying, Amen, &c. 6'61; dFívaµcs, that is, as origen expounds the Phrafeoften ufed by him- fell, rÿ 71a) zrapáOav cSHOav Bretp.W, lib. 8. adCelf ac- cording unto the prefent Abilitygiven unto him. This was the Gate , the Order, and the Worshipof the Church, with its Method , in the days of yuflinMartyr. This and noother is that which we plead for. Unto there times belongs the molt excellent Epistle of the Churches of Vienna and Lyons in Frajgce , unto the Brethren in Aria and Phrygia, recorded at largeby Eufebi- rra, Hifi. lib. g. cap. r. Their deign in it is,to give an ac- count of the holy Martyrs who fuffered in the perfecuti- on under Marcus Antoninus. I am no way concerned in what state Irenæus was in theChurch at Lyons, whereon after the writing of this Epistle, he was fent. to Eleuthe- rius the Bithop of Rome , which he gives an account of Chap. 4. He is indeed in that Epiale called a Presbyter of the Church; although as Tome fuppofe it was fundry years after the death of Pothinus, whom they call Bifop of Lyons, into whole room he immediately fucceeded. And Eufebius himfelf, cap. 8. affirming that he would give an account of the Writings of the antient Ecclfaflical Presbyters, in the fìra place produceth thofe of Ireneua. But thefe things belongnot unto our prefent contea. The Epiale we intend was written by the Brethren of thole Churches,and it was written to the Brethrenof theChurches in Afa and Phrygia; after the manner of the Scripture, wherein thefraternity or Body of the Church was defign- ed or intended in all fuch Epiftles. From them was this Epiale , and unto thole of the fame fort was it written , not from oneBifbop unto another. And as thismanifeas the concern of the Brotherhood in all Ecclefiaaical Af- fairs,
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