( ziz ) no Swearings or Perjuries, as is evident in the Epiftles ofPliny and Trajan the Emperour. In particular they utterly rejecîed fromtheir Communion, all that retorted unto publick Stage Plays, or other Spectacles, a folemn Renunciation whereofwas required ofthem who were admitted unto Baptifme when they were adult. See Clem. `Pedag. lib. 3. cap. 12. Ifthe Reader would have an account of the Lives and Manners of the firft Chur- ches in their Members, he may find it, in Clem. Epill. ad Cor. pag. 2, 3, 4: Jnfin Mart. Apol. 2. Tertullian in his Apol. and lib. 2. Ad Vxor. d° de cultufeminarum. Cyprian. Epifl. 2. & 12. Eufeb. Hifi. lib. 9. cap. 8. A- thanaf Epis`l. adSolit. & Epiphan. lib. 3. T. 2. Sect. 24. and the multiplyed complaints of Chryfooftame, concern- ing the beginning of Degeneracy in this Matter, with others. Ifthe Example of the Primitive Churches had been efteemed ofany valueor Authority in thefe things, much ofour prefent Differences had been prevented. 2dly. The Conftitution of thefe Parochial Aílem= blies is not from Heaven but ofMen. There is almoft nothing which is required unto the Conftitution ofE- vangelical Churches found in them; Nor are they look- ed on by any as compleat Churches, but only as conveni- encies for the Obfervance of fome Parts of the Worthip of God. What force have in their Wifdom found out for conveniency, others are ingaged unto a compliance therewithal by neceffity. For being born within the Precincts ofthe Parifh, makes them to belong unto the Affemblies of it, whether they will or no. To refrain from the Communion ofInch Churches, whole bond of Relation confifts only in Cohabitation within the Pre- cincs of a political Conftitution, is a newkind of Schifrne, which
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