which_o have_v a_o metropolitan_a and_o suffragans_fw-la before_o and_o be_v now_o destitute_a the_o bishop_n in_o the_o vicinity_n be_v careful_a to_o provide_v other_o which_o be_v so_o that_o it_o shall_v be_v part_n of_o basil_n province_n seem_v as_o incongruous_a as_o if_o it_o be_v say_v that_o the_o province_n of_o york_n be_v part_n of_o the_o province_n of_o canterbury_n but_o if_o this_o can_v be_v digest_v that_o one_o province_n be_v part_n of_o another_o yet_o isauria_n will_v rather_o be_v part_n of_o amphilochius_n his_o province_n who_o as_o he_o tell_v we_o be_v to_o constitute_v a_o metropolitan_a and_o other_o bishop_n therein_o than_o of_o basil_n who_o be_v only_o represent_v as_o give_v advice_n about_o it_o or_o if_o give_v advice_n and_o direction_n will_v prove_v any_o thing_n of_o this_o nature_n the_o papist_n may_v think_v it_o a_o good_a argument_n that_o africa_n be_v part_n of_o the_o roman_a province_n because_o leo_n bishop_n of_o rome_n give_v advise_v how_o bishop_n shall_v be_v there_o constitute_v ibid._n constitute_v ibid._n next_o he_o bring_v in_o the_o chore-piscopi_a in_o order_n to_o his_o design_n and_o tell_v we_o 550._o we_o pag._n 550._o they_o be_v country_n bishop_n and_o their_o church_n consist_v of_o many_o congregation_n and_o those_o at_o a_o good_a distance_n one_o from_o another_o and_o also_o that_o some_o of_o they_o have_v the_o inspection_n of_o a_o large_a territory_n no_o less_o it_o be_v like_a than_o the_o county_n of_o fussala_n but_o not_o a_o word_n for_o proof_n of_o this_o save_o basil_n mention_v a_o chor-episcopus_a 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d of_o some_o place_n whereas_o if_o he_o have_v be_v the_o bishop_n of_o two_o or_o three_o village_n this_o may_v be_v enough_o to_o satisfy_v the_o import_n of_o that_o expression_n yet_o he_o know_v there_o be_v some_o one_o country_n parish_n that_o have_v ten_o time_n as_o many_o or_o more_o village_n in_o it_o but_o never_o pretend_v to_o be_v a_o diocesan_n church_n and_o that_o such_o a_o pretence_n will_v be_v now_o count_v ridiculous_a he_o add_v that_o which_o if_o it_o be_v true_a wouldgo_o near_o to_o dethrone_v these_o country_n bishop_n for_o basil_n speak_v of_o they_o as_o have_v their_o throne_n in_o village_n and_o render_v they_o less_o than_o ancient_a presbyter_n for_o all_o their_o large_a territory_n and_o there_o be_v diocesan_n but_o yet_o these_o be_v but_o the_o deputy_n or_o surrogate_v of_o the_o city_n bishop_n in_o point_n of_o jurisdiction_n for_o they_o be_v to_o do_v nothing_o of_o moment_n without_o their_o bishop_n if_o this_o be_v so_o it_o will_v be_v less_o wonder_n that_o the_o pope_n will_v have_v bishop_n to_o be_v but_o his_o substitute_n and_o that_o some_o bishop_n will_v have_v the_o pastor_n of_o parochial_a church_n to_o be_v but_o their_o vicar_n or_o curate_n i_o hope_v our_o author_n intend_v better_a however_o it_o be_v well_o that_o such_o odd_a hypothesis_n have_v no_o better_a support_n than_o that_o which_o be_v add_v for_o say_v he_o they_o be_v to_o do_v nothing_o of_o moment_n without_o their_o bishop_n this_o be_v his_o argument_n and_o he_o be_v not_o alone_o in_o urge_v it_o let_v we_o see_v whether_o it_o will_v not_o do_v the_o bishop_n for_o who_o advancement_n it_o be_v design_v as_o much_o disservice_n as_o it_o can_v do_v the_o chorepiscopi_fw-la or_o presbyter_n divest_v they_o of_o that_o which_o be_v count_v more_o necessary_a and_o advantageous_a to_o they_o than_o a_o large_a diocese_n the_o provincial_a bishop_n be_v oblige_v to_o do_v nothing_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d without_o the_o bishop_n of_o the_o metropolis_n this_o the_o synod_n at_o antioch_n decree_n according_a to_o a_o ancient_a canon_n of_o the_o father_n 13._o father_n can._n 9_o can._n apost_n 35._o council_n milev_n can._n 13._o by_o this_o argument_n we_o must_v conclude_v that_o the_o bishop_n in_o a_o province_n be_v but_o the_o deputy_n and_o surrogate_v of_o the_o metropolitan_a and_o it_o may_v proceed_v proportionable_o against_o the_o metropolitan_o with_o respect_n to_o the_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d or_o primate_fw-la and_o also_o to_o their_o prejudice_n in_o reference_n to_o the_o patriarch_n it_o will_v go_v near_o to_o destroy_v the_o bishop_n likewise_o if_o we_o follow_v it_o downward_o in_o the_o ancient_a church_n the_o bishop_n be_v to_o do_v nothing_o of_o moment_n without_o the_o presbyter_n this_o the_o most_o judicious_a and_o learned_a asserter_n of_o episcopacy_n acknowledge_v usher_n acknowledge_v b._n bilson_n dr._n field_n dr._n downham_n b._n hall_n m._n thorndike_n b._n usher_n nay_o further_o in_o the_o best_a age_n of_o the_o church_n the_o bishop_n be_v to_o do_v nothing_o without_o the_o people_n that_o be_v without_o their_o presence_n and_o consent_n this_o be_v most_o evident_a in_o cyprian_n epistle_n and_o be_v acknowledge_v by_o such_o prelatist_n as_o be_v otherwise_o reserve_v enough_o 407._o enough_o vide_fw-la defence_n of_o dr._n st._n pag._n 407._o now_o by_o this_o argument_n we_o may_v conclude_v that_o bishop_n be_v but_o the_o deputy_n or_o surrogate_v of_o the_o presbyter_n or_o which_o will_v be_v count_v more_o intolerable_a that_o bishop_n have_v their_o jurisdiction_n from_o the_o people_n by_o deputation_n and_o vicarage_n it_o may_v be_v this_o gentleman_n will_v not_o like_o his_o argument_n so_o well_o when_o he_o see_v what_o improvement_n it_o be_v capable_a of_o yet_o in_o pursuance_n of_o it_o he_o add_v basil_n be_v so_o resolute_a upon_o his_o prerogative_n that_o he_o will_v not_o endure_v they_o shall_v ordain_v as_o much_o as_o the_o inferior_a clergy_n without_o his_o consent_n and_o if_o they_o do_v let_v they_o know_v say_v he_o that_o whosoever_o be_v admit_v without_o our_o consent_n shall_v be_v repute_v but_o a_o layman_n i_o suppose_v the_o prerogative_n for_o which_o he_o will_v have_v basil_n so_o resolute_a be_v a_o negative_a in_o ordination_n upon_o the_o country_n bishop_n but_o this_o can_v be_v conclude_v from_o the_o word_n cite_v for_o the_o council_n of_o nice_a give_v the_o metropolitan_a a_o power_n as_o to_z ordination_n in_o the_o same_o word_n 6._o word_n can._n 6._o declare_v that_o if_o a_o bishop_n be_v ordain_v by_o the_o provincial_n 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d without_o the_o judgement_n of_o the_o metropolitan_a the_o great_a council_n will_v have_v he_o account_v no_o bishop_n and_o yet_o the_o metropolitan_a have_v no_o negative_a upon_o the_o provincial_n in_o ordination_n for_o the_o same_o council_n determine_v that_o in_o ordination_n plurality_n of_o vote_n shall_v prevail_v which_o be_v utter_o inconsistent_a with_o any_o one_o negative_a voice_n what_o then_o be_v the_o import_n of_o basil_n 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d take_v it_o in_o the_o word_n of_o a_o very_a learned_a and_o judicious_a dr._n of_o this_o church_n it_o be_v indeed_o there_o say_v that_o none_o shall_v be_v ordain_v 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d without_o the_o opinion_n of_o the_o metropolitan_a but_o that_o do_v not_o import_v a_o negative_a voice_n in_o he_o but_o that_o the_o transaction_n shall_v not_o pass_v in_o his_o absence_n or_o without_o this_o knowledge_n advice_n and_o suffrage_n etc._n etc._n 314_o etc._n barrow_n of_o the_o pope_n supremacy_n pag._n 314_o 5._o it_o be_v no_o proof_n of_o a_o diocesan_n church_n to_o show_v that_o a_o town_n beside_o the_o clergy_n or_o officer_n in_o it_o have_v some_o presbyter_n or_o congregation_n in_o the_o country_n belong_v to_o it_o the_o instance_n which_o signify_v no_o more_o or_o not_o so_o much_o be_v produce_v as_o sufficient_a argument_n to_o prove_v there_o be_v such_o church_n as_o that_o of_o gaius_n diddensis_fw-la presbyter_n suppose_v with_o what_o ground_n i_o examine_v not_o to_o have_v be_v a_o country_n presbyter_n belong_v to_o carthage_n and_o under_o cyprian_n 504._o cyprian_n vindication_n p._n 504._o and_o that_o of_o felix_n say_v to_o do_v the_o office_n of_o a_o presbyter_n under_o decimus_n another_o presbyter_n a_o thing_n unheard_a of_o in_o those_o time_n but_o let_v we_o take_v it_o as_o we_o find_v it_o and_o upon_o the_o very_a slender_a reason_n allege_v against_o goulartius_n who_o be_v of_o another_o judgement_n believe_v that_o he_o be_v a_o priest_n in_o some_o village_n belong_v to_o caldonius_n his_o diocese_n 507._o diocese_n pag._n 506._o 507._o and_o that_o order_n for_o the_o presbyter_n from_o their_o church_n to_o repair_v to_o their_o proper_a bishop_n for_o chrism_n in_o africa_n 36._o africa_n con._n 4._o can._n 36._o in_o spain_n 20._o spain_n tol._n 1_o cap._n 20._o and_o in_o france_n 3._o france_n vascon_n can._n 3._o to_o these_o be_v add_v for_o further_a evidence_n the_o church_n say_v without_o ground_n to_o be_v many_o belong_v to_o hippo_n diaeritorum_fw-la also_o the_o church_n of_o thyana_n belong_v to_o
very_o near_o caesarea_n no_o indeed_o it_o be_v thereby_o prove_v to_o be_v so_o far_o from_o caesarea_n that_o it_o do_v not_o enlarge_v basil_n province_n much_o less_o his_o diocese_n thus_o it_o be_v also_o place_v in_o the_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d of_o leo_n sophus_n under_o the_o metropolitan_a of_o tyana_n not_o of_o caesarea_n it_o be_v true_a basil_n lay_v claim_v to_o it_o but_o after_o some_o contest_v he_o yield_v and_o anthimus_n carry_v it_o place_v eulalius_n there_o as_o one_o of_o his_o suffragans_fw-la when_o nazianzen_n have_v quit_v it_o he_o go_v far_a on_o to_o show_v the_o largeness_n of_o diocese_n in_o basil_n province_n it_o be_v plain_a by_o nazianzen_n that_o cappadocia_n have_v but_o 50_o bishop_n for_o so_o many_o he_o say_v basil_n have_v under_o he_o and_o consider_v the_o extent_n of_o that_o country_n the_o diocese_n must_v needs_o be_v large_a he_o do_v not_o say_v basil_n have_v no_o more_o under_o he_o nor_o that_o he_o be_v make_v no_o more_o he_o know_v basil_n be_v constitute_v more_o bishop_n in_o that_o part_n of_o cappadocia_n which_o be_v his_o province_n and_o nazianzen_n commend_v he_o for_o it_o as_o a_o excellent_a undertake_n on_o several_a account_n bal._n account_n orat._n de_fw-fr bal._n consider_v the_o extent_n of_o that_o country_n the_o diocese_n must_v needs_o be_v large_a for_o the_o country_n as_o strabo_n compute_v be_v near_o 400_o mile_n in_o length_n and_o little_o less_o in_o breadth_n if_o he_o mean_v basil_n own_o province_n where_o he_o tell_v we_o there_o be_v 50_o suffragans_fw-la under_o he_o beside_o sasima_n &c_n &c_n 546._o &c_n pag._n 546._o as_o i_o know_v not_o what_o he_o can_v mean_v else_o if_o his_o discourse_n be_v not_o impertinent_a and_o inconsistent_a for_o basil_n as_o metropolitan_a have_v no_o bishop_n under_o he_o but_o those_o in_o his_o proper_a province_n strabo_n be_v strange_o misrepresent_v to_o serve_v a_o turn_n for_o it_o be_v the_o whole_a country_n which_o pass_v under_o the_o name_n of_o cappadocia_n that_o the_o geographer_n give_v we_o the_o dimension_n of_o in_o the_o place_n cite_v and_o tell_v we_o it_o be_v divide_v into_o ten_o prefecture_n meletena_n cataonia_n cilica_fw-la tyanitis_n isauritis_n etc._n etc._n whereof_o basil_n province_n be_v but_o one_o viz._n that_o call_v cilica_fw-la and_o that_o of_o anthimus_n tyanitis_n another_o etc._n etc._n mazaca_n afterward_o call_v caesarea_n be_v metropolis_n of_o basil_n and_o tyana_n of_o tyanitis_n etc._n etc._n and_o after_o he_o have_v give_v some_o account_n of_o these_o ten_o praefecture_n he_o add_v the_o dimension_n of_o the_o whole_a country_n in_o these_o word_n the_o extent_n of_o cappadocia_n in_o breadth_n from_o the_o euxine_a to_o taurus_n be_v 1800_o furlong_n in_o length_n 3000._o so_o that_o our_o author_n will_v have_v the_o extent_n of_o basil_n province_n to_o be_v no_o less_o than_o that_o of_o the_o whole_a country_n when_o it_o be_v but_o the_o ten_o part_n thereof_o and_o as_o if_o this_o be_v not_o enough_o he_o make_v the_o breadth_n of_o the_o whole_a country_n to_o be_v near_o twice_o as_o much_o as_o it_o be_v in_o strabo_n but_o he_o have_v some_o salvo_fw-la for_o this_o such_o as_o it_o be_v and_o little_o less_o in_o breadth_n as_o causabon_n restore_v the_o read_n of_o 1800_o furlong_n in_o the_o 12_o book_n by_o a_o passage_n in_o the_o second_o where_o the_o breadth_n be_v make_v 2800._o it_o be_v true_a causabon_n observe_v some_o difference_n in_o the_o place_n cite_v but_o he_o show_v how_o they_o may_v be_v easy_o reconcile_v without_o change_v the_o text_n here_o or_o make_v the_o country_n broad_a than_o it_o be_v here_o describe_v viz._n by_o take_v pontus_n in_o one_o place_n for_o the_o sea_n in_o the_o other_o for_o the_o region_n so_o call_v separate_v from_o cappadocia_n by_o mountain_n parallel_v to_o taurus_n and_o then_o conclude_v sic_fw-la non_fw-la erit_fw-la discedendum_fw-la à _fw-la vulgatâ_fw-la lectione_n so_o that_o he_o have_v no_o relief_n by_o causabon_n without_o curtail_v the_o passage_n and_o in_o this_o compass_n bishop_n may_v contrive_v 50_o diocese_n of_o very_o competent_a extent_n and_o not_o inferior_a to_o many_o of_o we_o let_v he_o try_v how_o in_o basil_n province_n of_o about_o 40_o mile_n in_o length_n he_o can_v contrive_v room_n for_o above_o 50_o bishop_n with_o as_o large_a diocese_n as_o those_o he_o plead_v for_o that_o which_o be_v now_o think_v little_a enough_o for_o one_o bishop_n basil_n conceive_v too_o big_a for_o fifty_o what_o diocese_v basil_n and_o other_o before_o he_o think_v sufficient_a for_o bishop_n both_o then_o and_o in_o formertime_n appear_v by_o a_o passage_n which_o our_o author_n next_o cite_v where_o amphilochius_n bishop_n of_o iconium_n be_v direct_v to_o constitute_v bishop_n for_o the_o province_n of_o iconium_n in_o little_a corporation_n and_o village_n 406._o village_n ep._n 406._o hundred_o of_o instance_n may_v be_v bring_v of_o bishop_n elsewhere_o in_o such_o little_a place_n and_o village_n but_o i_o will_v go_v no_o further_o now_o than_o the_o instance_n himself_o offer_v we_o whereby_o it_o be_v manifest_a that_o a_o little_a corporation_n or_o a_o village_n may_v furnish_v a_o bishop_n with_o such_o a_o diocese_n as_o be_v then_o think_v competent_a both_o by_o basil_n and_o the_o church_n before_o he_o for_o in_o such_o little_a place_n there_o be_v bishop_n before_o as_o basil_n there_o signify_v and_o he_o give_v direction_n that_o it_o shall_v be_v so_o still_o yet_o he_o that_o will_v advise_v the_o reduce_n of_o bishop_n to_o such_o see_v now_o will_v be_v count_v a_o enemy_n to_o episcopacy_n and_o his_o advice_n destructive_a to_o bishop_n so_o much_o do_v we_o now_o differ_v both_o from_o the_o judgement_n and_o practice_n of_o the_o ancient_a church_n and_o the_o most_o eminent_a bishop_n in_o it_o hereby_o also_o it_o appear_v that_o the_o multiply_a of_o metropolitan_o be_v no_o such_o occasion_n of_o multiply_a bishop_n but_o that_o their_o number_n increase_v when_o there_o be_v not_o that_o occasion_n and_o this_o in_o cappadocia_n which_o be_v our_o author_n be_v eminent_a instance_n 545._o instance_n pag._n 545._o for_o bishop_n be_v multiply_v by_o erect_v episcopal_a see_v in_o village_n and_o little_a place_n this_o be_v do_v in_o isauria_n a_o province_n in_o cappadocia_n as_o appear_v by_o these_o passage_n in_o basil_n before_o the_o contest_v between_o he_o and_o anthimus_n upon_o the_o constitute_n of_o a_o new_a metropolitan_a and_o after_o that_o difference_n be_v compose_v basil_n think_v it_o adviseable_a that_o it_o shall_v be_v do_v still_o and_o the_o like_a may_v be_v say_v of_o africa_n the_o instance_n he_o most_o insist_o on_o and_o spend_v many_o page_n upon_o it_o pretend_v the_o occasion_n why_o bishop_n be_v so_o numerous_a there_o be_v the_o schism_n of_o the_o donatist_n whereas_o the_o rule_n by_o which_o the_o african_a father_n proceed_v in_o erect_v bishopric_n in_o little_a place_n and_o so_o increase_v the_o number_n of_o bishop_n be_v as_o themselves_o declare_v who_o best_o know_v it_o the_o increase_n of_o the_o number_n of_o christian_n 5._o christian_n council_n carth._n 2_o can._n 5._o where_o these_o be_v multiply_v and_o desire_v a_o bishop_n they_o think_v themselves_o oblige_v to_o let_v they_o have_v one_o not_o except_v the_o meanness_n or_o smallness_n of_o the_o place_n where_o he_o be_v to_o be_v constitute_v and_o we_o must_v believe_v if_o we_o have_v any_o reverence_n for_o those_o father_n that_o they_o will_v have_v do_v what_o they_o judge_v themselves_o oblige_v to_o though_o there_o have_v be_v no_o donatist_n among_o they_o and_o when_o there_o can_v be_v no_o such_o pretence_n of_o occasion_n from_o the_o donatist_n the_o practice_n be_v continue_v as_o appear_v by_o st._n augustine_n procure_v a_o bishop_n for_o fussala_n which_o he_o call_v a_o castle_n upon_o some_o increase_n of_o the_o catholic_n there_o diverse_a year_n after_o the_o note_a conference_n at_o carthage_n where_o the_o heart_n of_o the_o donatist_n be_v break_v nay_o many_o year_n after_o the_o invasion_n of_o the_o vandal_n and_o the_o death_n of_o st._n austin_n they_o proceed_v in_o the_o same_o method_n or_o rather_o exceed_v their_o predecessor_n in_o multiply_a bishop_n by_o erect_v episcopal_a seat_n in_o small_a and_o more_o inconsiderable_a place_n if_o leo_n his_o epistle_n may_v be_v credit_v 85._o credit_v ep._n 85._o but_o to_o return_v to_o our_o author_n and_o the_o passage_n of_o basil_n insist_v on_o by_o which_o say_v he_o it_o appear_v that_o isauria_n be_v part_n of_o basil_n province_n how_o this_o appear_v by_o any_o thing_n therein_o i_o can_v imagine_v our_o author_n signify_v before_o that_o isauria_n be_v a_o distinct_a province_n the_o metropolis_n of_o it_o as_o he_o suppose_v seleucia_n
he_o reckon_v but_o 466_o 149._o vindic._n p._n 149._o take_v in_o those_o of_o the_o schismatic_n too_o about_o 66_o for_o each_o province_n one_o with_o another_o count_v they_o as_o he_o do_v seven_o and_o the_o account_n which_o other_o give_v of_o their_o number_n in_o the_o ancient_a roman_a province_n the_o kingdom_n of_o naples_n the_o island_n crete_n ireland_n to_o say_v nothing_o of_o armenia_n and_o other_o part_n of_o the_o world_n that_o which_o follow_v be_v i_o suppose_v instead_o of_o a_o answer_n to_o the_o other_o part_n of_o my_o discourse_n concern_v the_o popular_a election_n of_o bishop_n which_o this_o gentleman_n be_v as_o much_o concern_v to_o take_v notice_n of_o as_o of_o the_o few_o passage_n he_o have_v touch_v in_o the_o former_a part_n why_o he_o do_v not_o i_o will_v not_o inquire_v further_o but_o satisfy_v myself_o with_o what_o be_v obvious_a especial_o since_o he_o tell_v we_o he_o intend_v a_o discourse_n of_o such_o a_o subject_a if_o in_o this_o design_a work_n he_o satisfy_v i_o that_o it_o be_v not_o the_o general_a practice_n of_o the_o ancient_a church_n for_o the_o people_n to_o concur_v in_o the_o choice_n of_o their_o bishop_n he_o will_v do_v i_o a_o great_a displeasure_n than_o the_o confutation_n of_o what_o i_o have_v write_v or_o any_o other_o that_o i_o can_v fear_v he_o intend_v i_o by_o take_v i_o off_o from_o further_a conversation_n with_o ancient_a author_n as_o person_n by_o who_o write_n we_o can_v clear_o know_v nothing_o for_o if_o that_o point_n be_v not_o clear_a in_o antiquity_n i_o can_v never_o expect_v to_o find_v any_o thing_n there_o that_o be_v so_o i_o intend_v to_o conclude_v this_o discourse_n here_o without_o give_v the_o reader_n further_o trouble_v but_o consider_v there_o be_v misapprehension_n about_o the_o subject_a in_o question_n those_o be_v take_v by_o diverse_a for_o diocesan_n church_n which_o indeed_o be_v not_o such_o and_o argument_n use_v to_o prove_v they_o so_o which_o be_v not_o competent_a for_o that_o purpose_n of_o which_o there_o be_v many_o instance_n as_o elsewhere_o so_o particular_o in_o the_o latter_a end_n of_o this_o author_n discourse_n i_o think_v it_o requisite_a for_o the_o rectify_v of_o these_o mistake_n and_o to_o show_v the_o insufficiency_n or_o impertinency_n of_o such_o reason_n to_o give_v a_o account_n what_o medium_n can_v in_o reason_n be_v esteem_v to_o afford_v competent_a proof_n of_o diocesan_n church_n in_o general_n those_o who_o will_v satisfy_v we_o that_o any_o church_n in_o the_o first_o age_n of_o christianity_n be_v diocesan_n shall_v prove_v they_o to_o be_v such_o diocesan_n as_o we_o be_v as_o large_a or_o near_o as_o large_a otherwise_o what_o they_o offer_v will_v scarce_o appear_v to_o be_v pertinent_a for_o the_o rise_n of_o this_o debate_n be_v the_o question_n between_o we_o whether_o the_o bishop_n of_o these_o time_n be_v such_o as_o those_o in_o the_o primitive_a church_n this_o we_o deny_v because_o modern_a bishop_n will_v have_v another_o sort_n of_o church_n or_o diocese_n than_o be_v know_v in_o the_o best_a age_n not_o that_o we_o reject_v all_o diocese_n or_o diocesan_a church_n for_o both_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d and_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d be_v use_v by_o the_o ancient_n for_o such_o church_n as_o we_o allow_v it_o be_v those_o of_o a_o late_a model_n that_o we_o approve_v not_o as_o vast_o differ_v from_o the_o ancient_a episcopal_a church_n the_o modern_a diocese_n and_o church_n thence_o denominate_v be_v exceed_v great_a and_o extensive_a consist_v of_o many_o score_n or_o many_o hundred_o particular_a church_n whereas_o for_o the_o three_o first_o age_n we_o can_v find_v 3_o bishop_n that_o have_v two_o particular_a church_n in_o his_o diocese_n nor_o in_o the_o four_o one_o in_o 50_o if_o i_o may_v not_o say_v one_o in_o a_o hundred_o that_o have_v more_o so_o that_o the_o difference_n be_v exceed_o great_a and_o more_o considerable_a in_o the_o consequence_n thereof_o which_o i_o have_v rather_o give_v a_o account_n of_o in_o the_o word_n of_o the_o very_a learned_a d._n st._n than_o i_o own_o diocese_n general_o say_v he_o in_o the_o primitive_a and_o eastern_a church_n be_v very_o small_a and_o little_a as_o far_o more_o convenient_a for_o this_o end_n of_o they_o in_o the_o government_n of_o the_o church_n under_o the_o bishop_n charge_n 376._o charge_n iren._n p._n 376._o and_o elsewhere_o discipline_n say_v he_o be_v then_o a_o great_a deal_n more_o strict_a preach_v more_o diligent_a man_n more_o apprehensive_a of_o the_o weight_n of_o their_o function_n than_o for_o any_o to_o undertake_v such_o a_o care_n and_o charge_n of_o soul_n that_o it_o be_v impossible_a for_o they_o even_o to_o know_v observe_v or_o watch_v over_o so_o as_o to_o give_v a_o account_n for_o they_o 332._o they_o pag._n 332._o man_n that_o be_v employ_v in_o the_o church_n then_o do_v not_o consult_v for_o their_o ease_n and_o honour_n and_o think_v it_o not_o enough_o for_o they_o to_o sit_v still_o and_o bid_v other_o work_v 333._o work_v pag._n 333._o st._n austin_n speak_v of_o the_o 3d._a age_n make_v account_n of_o many_o thousand_o bishop_n then_o in_o the_o world_n 3._o world_n contra_fw-la crescon_n lib._n 3._o our_o author_n seem_v to_o treat_v that_o excellent_a person_n something_o coarse_o on_o this_o occasion_n and_o go_v near_o to_o question_v his_o judgement_n or_o veracity_n for_o it_o 534._o it_o pag._n 534._o some_o may_v think_v this_o not_o over_o decent_o do_v to_o say_v no_o more_o when_o it_o be_v his_o business_n to_o vindicate_v some_o ancient_a bishop_n who_o need_v it_o to_o reflect_v upon_o one_o so_o untainted_a as_o to_o need_v none_o however_o since_o he_o say_v that_o father_n judge_v of_o other_o age_n by_o his_o own_o when_o dioceses_n be_v exceed_o multiply_v 535._o multiply_v pag._n 535._o we_o may_v suppose_v he_o will_v grant_v there_o be_v many_o thousand_o bishop_n in_o the_o four_o age._n yet_o among_o so_o many_o thousand_o bishop_n i_o do_v not_o expect_v that_o any_o can_v show_v i_o 20_o if_o i_o may_v not_o say_v 10._o who_o have_v so_o many_o church_n in_o their_o diocese_n as_o some_o pluralist_n among_o we_o may_v have_v who_o yet_o never_o pretend_v to_o have_v a_o diocesan_n church_n those_o therefore_o who_o will_v make_v proof_n of_o such_o diocesan_n church_n as_o be_v in_o question_n must_v show_v we_o some_o in_o the_o primitive_a time_n something_o like_o we_o in_o largeness_n and_o extent_n among_o the_o instance_n produce_v for_o this_o purpose_n by_o former_a or_o late_a writer_n i_o find_v none_o any_o thing_n near_o to_o we_o save_o that_o only_a of_o theodoret_n in_o the_o 5_o age._n but_o this_o in_o the_o former_a discourse_n be_v show_v to_o be_v so_o insufficient_a to_o serve_v the_o end_n it_o be_v allege_v for_o that_o i_o may_v hope_v it_o will_v be_v press_v no_o more_o for_o this_o service_n more_o particular_o one_a it_o prove_v not_o a_o church_n to_o be_v diocesan_n because_o it_o consist_v of_o more_o than_o can_v meet_v together_o in_o one_o place_n for_o there_o be_v parish_n in_o this_o land_n that_o contain_v many_o hundred_o or_o thousand_o more_o than_o can_v meet_v in_o the_o parish_n church_n and_o yet_o be_v but_o count_v single_a congregation_n though_o multitude_n in_o such_o church_n be_v far_o from_o prove_v they_o to_o be_v diocesan_n yet_o i_o think_v two_o instance_n can_v be_v give_v in_o the_o three_o age_n of_o more_o in_o one_o church_n than_o be_v in_o some_o single_a congregation_n among_o we_o nor_o many_o afterward_o till_o arianism_n and_o donatism_n be_v suppress_v which_o the_o latter_a be_v not_o in_o africa_n till_o after_o the_o famous_a conference_n at_o carthage_n anno_fw-la 410_o nor_o the_o former_a in_o other_o part_n during_o the_o four_o age_n for_o though_o theodosius_n make_v some_o sharp_a declaration_n against_o they_o and_o other_o heretic_n yet_o none_o but_o the_o eunomian_o be_v prosecute_v if_o we_o believe_v socrates_n 20._o socrates_n lib._n 5._o c._n 20._o that_o emperor_n give_v not_o the_o least_o trouble_n to_o the_o rest_n force_v none_o to_o communicate_v with_o he_o but_o allow_v they_o their_o meeting_n and_o even_o in_o c._n p._n when_o afterward_o the_o arian_n divide_v among_o themselves_o each_o party_n have_v several_a congregation_n in_o that_o city_n 23._o city_n lib._n 5._o c._n 23._o both_o that_o which_o adhere_v to_o marinus_n and_o that_o also_o which_o follow_v dorothius_n these_o keep_n the_o church_n which_o they_o have_v before_o and_o the_o other_o erect_v new_a church_n i_o know_v there_o be_v those_o who_o from_o some_o passage_n in_o tertullian_n scapulam_fw-la tertullian_n apol._n c._n 37._o &_o ad_fw-la scapulam_fw-la will_v infer_v that_o the_o christian_n in_o his_o time_n be_v