Church-history of the government of bishops and their councils abbreviated including the chief part…

§. 26. Next for the Poor, consider their proportions in and by other Churches; Chrysost. in Matth. Edit Savil. p. 421. supposeth the Poor of the Church of Antioch (whence he came) to have been about the tenth part and dividing the City into three Ranks, he accounts a tenth part rich, and a tenth part poor, and the rest of a middle Estate between both. Now in Chrysostom's time the Church was so high, being owned by the greatest Emperors as we may well suppose almost all or most of the rich came in: Whereas at Rome in the time of Cornelius it being under reproach and cruel persecution, we may well conclude, that most of the rich stood out, and they might say with Paul, not many Great, not many Noble are called; few rich men comparatively receiving the Gospel, it's most likely that the poor were then far more than a tenth part, if not the greater part of the Church. But suppose them a tenth part, which is not probable, the whole Church of Rome then would be but 10500 Souls, ⟨p. 9⟩which is about the fifth part or sixth as big as Martins Parish, and about a quarter as big as Stepney Parish, and about a third or fourth part as big as Giles Cripplegate Parish, and not half so big as Giles in the Fields and other Parishes. Moreover Chrysostom, Hom. 11. in Act. p. 674. computes the poor at Constantinople to be about half as many as all the other Christians, and this in the most flourishing City and Age: And by this measure they would yet fall further short.

§. 26. Next for the Poor, consider their proportions in and by other Churches; Chrysost. in Matth. Edit Savil. p. 421. supposeth the Poor of the Church of Antioch (whence he came) to have been about the tenth part and dividing the City into three Ranks, he accounts a tenth part rich, and a tenth part poor, and the rest of a middle Estate between both. Now in Chrysostom's time the Church was so high, being owned by the greatest Emperours as we may well suppose almost all or most of the rich came in: Whereas at Rome in the time of Cornelius it being under reproach and cruel persecution, we may well conclude, that most of the rich stood out, and they might say with Paul, not many Great, not many Noble are called; few rich men comparatively receiving the Gospel, it's most likely that the poor were then far more than a tenth part, if not the greater part of the Church. But suppose them a tenth part, which is not probable, the whole Church of Rome then would be but 10500 Souls, ⟨p. 9⟩