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

§. 27. And as for Alexandria, the greatest City of the Empire next Rome (as Josephus saith, de bello Jud. l. 5. c. ult. it is certain that in the third Century the Christians had more Meeting Places for Divine Worship than one, and in the fourth Century had many: Epiphanius nameth divers, Haeres. 69. p. 728. Arius having one wherein he preached, had that advantage to propagate his Heresy. But all know that the building of Temples began after Emperors were Christians, and the fair Churches which, Eusebius saith, they had in Dioclesians time (till he destroyed them) were but like our Tabernacles or private Churches, and grew to Number and Ornament but a little before, as Eusebius intimateth. It was a good while before there were two Churches, even in Constantinople. Indeed, it is noted, as a singularity, that they had two Churches: But they mistake, that apply that to two Meeting Places, which is spoken of two Societies, because in Meletius time they had two Bishops.

§. 27. And as for Alexandria, the greatest City of the Empire next Rome (as Iosephus saith, de bello Iud. l. 5. c. ult. it is certain that in the third Century the Christians had more Meeting Places for Divine Worship than one, and in the fourth Century had many: Epiphanius nameth divers, Haeres. 69. p. 728. Arius having one wherein he preached, had that advantage to propogate his Heresie. But all know that the building of Temples began after Emperours were Christians, and the fair Churches which, Eusebius saith, they had in Dioclesians time (till he destroyed them) were but like our Tabernacles or private Churches, and grew to Number and Ornament but a little before, as Eusebius intimateth. It was a good while before there were two Churches, even in Constantinople. Indeed, it is noted, as a singularity, that they had two Churches: But they mistake, that apply that to two Meeting Places, which is spoken of two Societies, because in Meletius time they had two Bishops.

§. 28. But yet let us see how big the Christian Church was in this great City, even when it had many Chapels; even in Athanasius time, in the fourth Century, Tom. 1. Ed. Commel. p. 531. in his Apology to Constant. you may find (in words too large to be all transcribed) that he being accused for assembling the People in the Great Church, maketh this part of his Defence, [The confluence of the People at the Easter Solemnity was so great, that if they had met in several Assemblies (or by parties) the other Churches were so narrow or small that they would have been in danger of suffering by the Crowd; nor would the universal Harmony and Concord of the People have been so visible and efficacious if they had met in Parcels; Therefore he concludeth it better for the whole Multitude to meet in that great Church, (being a place large enough to receive them altogether) and to have a concurrence of the People all with one Voice (in Symphony:) For if according to Christ's promise where two shall agree of any thing it shall be done for them—how prevalent will be the One-voice of so numerous a People assembled together, and saying, Amen, to God? Who therefore would not admire? Who would not count it a happiness to see so great a People met together in one place? And how did the People rejoice to see one another,