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be_v disperse_v hither_o and_o thither_o it_o may_v be_v also_o god_n let_v it_o grow_v more_o rank_a and_o abundant_a then_o ordinary_a church_n because_o it_o be_v ecclesia_fw-la surcularis_fw-la many_o of_o who_o branch_n be_v to_o be_v translate_v in_o their_o time_n but_o whatsoever_o may_v be_v the_o reason_n of_o this_o great_a number_n this_o be_v certain_a the_o multitude_n be_v great_a for_o after_o it_o be_v grow_v to_o five_o thousand_o and_o multitude_n of_o man_n and_o woman_n be_v add_v 1._o it_o increase_v daily_o the_o number_n of_o disciple_n increase_v great_o in_o jerusalem_n 7._o and_o a_o great_a company_n of_o the_o priest_n be_v obedient_a to_o the_o faith_n the_o syriack_n interpreter_n have_v it_o of_o the_o jew_n sc_n inhabit_v judea_n but_o the_o greek_a arabic_a ethiopick_n vulgar_a and_o chrysostom_n approve_v the_o former_a and_o the_o number_n of_o priest_n be_v not_o small_a 39_o as_o the_o scripture_n witness_v 4._o and_o when_o all_o the_o apostle_n 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and_o not_o to_o give_v that_o honour_n unto_o jesus_n christ_n or_o to_o give_v it_o unto_o any_o other_o be_v a_o breach_n of_o the_o first_o commandment_n it_o be_v true_a that_o inward_a and_o outward_a worship_n both_o when_o they_o be_v both_o of_o one_o nature_n or_o kind_n be_v require_v in_o the_o first_o precept_n as_o if_o i_o must_v pray_v unto_o god_n in_o the_o mediation_n of_o jesus_n christ_n or_o pray_v unto_o jesus_n christ_n my_o only_a saviour_n i_o may_v kneel_v or_o prostrate_v myself_o or_o bow_v my_o body_n in_o the_o exercise_n of_o religion_n and_o these_o action_n must_v be_v refer_v to_o the_o same_o commandment_n it_o be_v also_o true_a that_o the_o second_o commandment_n reach_v to_o the_o heart_n and_o require_v that_o we_o right_o conceive_v of_o allow_v approve_v and_o affect_v the_o ordinance_n of_o institute_v worship_n appoint_v of_o god_n as_o well_o as_o exercise_v and_o maintain_v it_o but_o see_v the_o worship_n itself_o command_v be_v 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withal_o to_o understand_v which_o kind_n or_o form_n thereof_o be_v the_o true_a visible_a church_n of_o christ_n or_o kingdom_n of_o heaven_n upon_o earth_n which_o be_v the_o only_a way_n and_o in_o it_o the_o only_a truth_n ordinary_o lead_v to_o eternal_a life_n hereafter_o for_o the_o true_a visible_a church_n of_o christ_n be_v but_o only_o one_o questionless_a in_o nature_n form_n and_o constitution_n there_o be_v express_v and_o pregnant_a text_n of_o scripture_n which_o show_v what_o be_v the_o true_a visible_a church_n of_o god_n answ_n whereunto_o christian_n may_v and_o aught_o to_o join_v themselves_o in_o holy_a fellowship_n in_o the_o ordinance_n of_o worship_n as_o where_o the_o covenant_n of_o god_n be_v there_o be_v the_o people_n of_o god_n and_o the_o visible_a church_n 12._o for_o communication_n and_o receive_v the_o table_n of_o the_o covenant_n be_v a_o certain_a sign_n of_o a_o people_n in_o covenant_n 4._o for_o what_o be_v it_o to_o be_v the_o flock_n 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be_v build_v upon_o he_o by_o faith_n the_o matter_n be_v the_o people_n unite_v and_o knit_v unto_o christ_n and_o so_o one_o unto_o another_o now_o where_o the_o matter_n and_o form_n of_o a_o church_n be_v there_o be_v a_o church_n every_o society_n or_o assembly_n profess_v the_o intâ—re_n and_o true_a faith_n of_o christ_n and_o worship_v god_n with_o a_o holy_a worship_n join_v together_o in_o prayer_n and_o thanksgiving_n enjoy_v the_o right_a use_n of_o the_o sacrament_n and_o keep_v the_o unity_n of_o the_o spirit_n in_o the_o bond_n of_o peace_n be_v the_o true_a church_n of_o christ_n the_o gospel_n may_v be_v preach_v to_o infidel_n some_o supernatural_a truth_n may_v be_v profess_v by_o heretic_n the_o use_n of_o the_o sacrament_n may_v be_v in_o adulterate_a church_n but_o the_o entire_a profession_n of_o all_o fundamental_a article_n of_o faith_n to_o be_v believe_v and_o main_a precept_n and_o moral_a law_n for_o practice_n to_o be_v acknowledge_v the_o dwell_n of_o the_o truth_n among_o man_n and_o the_o right_a use_n of_o the_o sacrament_n which_o be_v ever_o join_v with_o true_a doctrine_n and_o to_o be_v esteem_v by_o it_o be_v proper_a to_o they_o that_o be_v in_o covenant_n with_o god_n the_o law_n and_o statute_n which_o god_n give_v to_o israel_n be_v the_o honour_n and_o ornament_n of_o that_o nation_n a_o testimony_n that_o the_o lord_n have_v separate_v they_o from_o all_o other_o people_n even_o the_o gentile_n themselves_o being_n judge_n 6._o this_o be_v your_o wisdom_n and_o your_o understanding_n in_o the_o sight_n of_o the_o people_n 20._o he_o give_v his_o law_n unto_o jacob_n 13._o his_o statute_n and_o ordinance_n unto_o israel_n thou_o give_v they_o right_a judgement_n and_o true_a law_n ordinance_n and_o good_a commandment_n 38._o who_o receive_v the_o lively_a oracle_n to_o give_v unto_o we_o 29._o they_o have_v moses_n and_o the_o prophet_n sound_v doctrine_n
grievous_a persecution_n the_o church_n of_o god_n can_v not_o assemble_v in_o any_o great_a number_n in_o public_a place_n but_o have_v be_v compel_v to_o meet_v in_o den_n and_o cave_n and_o wood_n one_o and_o the_o same_o society_n in_o divers_a place_n yet_o so_o as_o the_o society_n be_v not_o break_v though_o their_o meeting_n together_o in_o one_o place_n be_v interrupt_v to_o meet_v together_o therefore_o in_o one_o place_n be_v not_o so_o essential_a to_o the_o church_n but_o it_o may_v continue_v one_o in_o law_n ordinance_n government_n and_o communion_n though_o in_o respect_n of_o multitude_n distance_n of_o place_n and_o many_o other_o occurrence_n they_o be_v constrain_v to_o assemble_v and_o hold_v their_o meeting_n several_o and_o that_o it_o be_v thus_o in_o the_o church_n plant_v by_o the_o apostle_n it_o be_v most_o probable_a may_v we_o not_o well_o think_v that_o the_o christian_a church_n at_o jerusalem_n for_o who_o christ_n have_v pray_v particular_o to_o which_o some_o attribute_n the_o first_o miraculous_a conversion_n by_o peter_n preach_v and_o among_o who_o be_v now_o ascend_v into_o glory_n 18._o he_o do_v more_o abundant_o display_v his_o power_n and_o more_o conspicuous_o swallow_v up_o the_o scandal_n of_o his_o cross_n which_o have_v the_o labour_n of_o all_o or_o many_o of_o the_o apostle_n for_o a_o time_n in_o it_o who_o care_n and_o industry_n we_o may_v guess_v at_o by_o their_o ordination_n of_o deacon_n that_o they_o may_v not_o be_v distract_v whereunto_o much_o people_n do_v resort_v daily_o who_o though_o explicit_o they_o do_v not_o believe_v in_o christ_n yet_o have_v they_o in_o they_o the_o faith_n of_o the_o messiah_n and_o so_o be_v near_o to_o the_o kingdom_n of_o god_n than_o the_o common_a heathen_a which_o be_v to_o send_v out_o light_a to_o all_o other_o church_n and_o be_v a_o common_a nursery_n to_o the_o world_n may_v we_o not_o well_o think_v that_o this_o church_n do_v quick_o rise_v to_o such_o 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great_a and_o populous_a city_n with_o their_o suburb_n and_o circumjacent_a village_n do_v exceed_v the_o capacity_n of_o one_o congregation_n the_o officer_n also_o which_o the_o apostle_n ordain_v for_o the_o use_n of_o those_o church_n be_v in_o number_n more_o than_o one_o ordinary_a congregation_n can_v bear_v or_o be_v necessary_a for_o the_o service_n thereof_o unless_o it_o be_v exceed_o great_a and_o can_v not_o long_o continue_v together_o with_o edification_n but_o of_o necessity_n must_v assemble_v in_o several_a place_n it_o be_v not_o the_o apostle_n practice_n to_o ordain_v pastor_n in_o those_o place_n where_o as_o yet_o no_o sheep_n be_v to_o be_v see_v or_o very_o few_o and_o it_o have_v be_v inconvenient_a to_o tie_v the_o faithful_a to_o one_o congregation_n when_o by_o reason_n of_o multitude_n they_o can_v not_o meet_v in_o one_o place_n to_o their_o edification_n what_o then_o remain_v but_o that_o they_o may_v assemble_v in_o divers_a place_n and_o yet_o hold_v communion_n in_o law_n ordinance_n government_n and_o officer_n when_o presbyter_n be_v first_o assign_v to_o their_o particular_a cure_n it_o be_v not_o certain_a 16._o eusebius_n report_v censur_fw-fr that_o many_o church_n be_v gather_v in_o alexandria_n by_o mark_n 6._o but_o what_o he_o allege_v out_o of_o philo_n as_o if_o it_o be_v to_o be_v understand_v of_o christian_n be_v misapply_v by_o he_o the_o first_o as_o it_o be_v common_o receive_v that_o divide_a church_n into_o parish_n and_o assign_v presbyter_n distinct_o to_o take_v care_n of_o they_o obscur_fw-la be_v euaristus_n bishop_n of_o rome_n but_o platina_n report_v this_o upon_o the_o credit_n of_o damasus_n and_o that_o supposititious_a for_o the_o author_n of_o the_o book_n carry_v the_o title_n of_o damasus_n be_v anastasius_n bibliothecarius_n a_o abbot_n of_o rome_n who_o live_v about_o the_o year_n dccclviii_o 9_o and_o what_o probability_n be_v there_o that_o under_o the_o reign_n of_o trajan_n who_o move_v the_o three_o persecution_n from_o nero_n against_o the_o church_n 97._o and_o that_o most_o violent_a there_o shall_v be_v place_n to_o divide_v parish_n and_o place_n singular_a presbyter_n over_o their_o peculiar_a charge_n 8._o some_o think_v with_o more_o probability_n that_o dionysius_n who_o be_v bishop_n of_o rome_n in_o the_o year_n of_o christ_n 267._o do_v ordain_v parish_n ibid._n and_o commit_v they_o so_o ordain_v to_o presbyter_n for_o in_o his_o day_n the_o church_n have_v peace_n galienus_n by_o public_a edict_n grant_v liberty_n but_o if_o it_o be_v yield_v that_o there_o be_v some_o parochial_a division_n about_o those_o time_n they_o be_v not_o many_o and_o within_o the_o city_n and_o be_v but_o as_o chapell_n of_o ease_n the_o church_n hold_v and_o continue_v the_o same_o communion_n and_o whensoever_o presbyter_n be_v assign_v to_o their_o special_a cure_n we_o may_v conceive_v the_o multitude_n of_o believer_n though_o within_o the_o city_n only_o necessary_o 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time_n of_o fabian_n before_o cornelius_n 36._o neither_o must_v we_o think_v that_o a_o emperor_n 28._o as_o philippus_n favour_v the_o faith_n ruff._n do_v not_o bring_v on_o multitude_n to_o the_o like_a profession_n cornelius_n report_v that_o in_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n there_o be_v seven_o deacon_n ruff._n seven_o subdeacons_n two_o and_o forty_o acolyte_n two_o and_o fifty_o lectour_n porter_n exorcist_n six_o and_o forty_o presbyter_n a_o thousand_o and_o five_o hundred_o widow_n poor_a and_o sick_a and_o from_o hence_o he_o do_v amplify_v novatus_n his_o pertinacy_n that_o none_o of_o the_o numerous_a clergy_n nor_o yet_o of_o the_o people_n very_o great_a and_o innumerable_a can_v turn_v he_o or_o recall_v he_o this_o be_v one_o visible_a ministerial_a church_n wherein_o all_o the_o member_n have_v union_n and_o communion_n together_o for_o the_o mutual_a edify_n and_o restore_v one_o of_o another_o but_o it_o be_v too_o great_a and_o abundant_a ordinary_o to_o assemble_v in_o one_o place_n so_o that_o the_o church_n may_v remain_v one_o when_o the_o multitude_n be_v too_o great_a to_o meet_v in_o one_o place_n ordinary_o and_o when_o particular_a presbyter_n be_v assign_v to_o particular_a cure_n for_o that_o be_v not_o a_o division_n of_o the_o society_n into_o society_n distinct_a but_o a_o assignment_n of_o some_o particular_a officer_n to_o the_o oversight_n of_o one_o part_n or_o branch_n of_o the_o society_n for_o the_o more_o fit_a and_o commodious_a government_n of_o the_o whole_a as_o it_o be_v conceive_v and_o they_o so_o attend_v that_o branch_n of_o the_o society_n or_o church_n that_o their_o care_n and_o oversight_n reach_v to_o the_o whole_a and_o out_o of_o doubt_v this_o form_n or_o kind_n of_o a_o visible_a and_o ministerial_a church_n be_v much_o near_o to_o the_o pattern_n and_o precedent_n set_v by_o the_o apostle_n in_o the_o first_o plantation_n of_o christian_a church_n then_o that_o two_o three_o or_o few_o believer_n