The nonconformists plea for peace, or, An account of their judgment in certain things…

Sect. X. Nor did we ever see it proved, that any one Church of this first Rank (which was not an Association of Churches) consisted in Scripture times of many (much less many score or hundred) such fixed Churches or Congregations: Or that any one Bishop of the first Rank (that was not an Apostle, or a Bishop of Bishops) of whom we now speak not, had more than one of such fixed Societies or Churches under him: Or might have more stated members of his Church, than were capable of Personal Communion, and mutual assistance at due seasons, in holy Doctrine, Discipline and Worship: Though we doubt not but as now, there are many Chapels in some Parishes, where the aged, weak, children, and all in soul weather, or by other hinderances may hear, and pray, and occasionally communicate, ⟨p. 14⟩whose proximity and relation to the Parish-Churches do make them capable of Personal Communion in due seasons with the whole Parish (at least per vices) in those Churches, and in their conversation: And as a single Congregation may prudently in persecution, or foul weather, meet oft-times in several houses; so the great Church of Jerusalem (though it cannot be proved a quarter so big as some of our Parishes) might in those times when they had no Temples, hold their public Meetings oft at the same time in divers houses; and yet be capable of Personal Communion, as it is before described.

Sect. X. Nor did we ever see it proved, that any one Church of this first Rank (which was not an Association of Churches) consisted in Scripturetimes of many (much less many score or hundred) such fixed Churches or Congregations: Or that any one Bishop of the first Rank (that was not an Apostle, or a Bishop of Bishops) of whom we now speak not, had more than one of such fixed Societies or Churches under him: Or might have more stated members of his Church, than were capable of Personal Communion, and mutual assistance at due seasons, in holy Doctrine, Discipline and Worship: Though we doubt not but as now, there are many Chapels in some Parishes, where the aged, weak, children, and all in soul weather, or by other hinderances may hear, and pray, and occasionally communicate, ⟨p. 14⟩whose proximity and relation to the Parish-Churches do make them capable of Personal Communion in due seasons with the whole Parish (at least per vices) in those Churches, and in their conversation: And as a single Congregation may prudently in persecution, or foul weather, meet oft-times in several houses; so the great Church of Jerusalem (though it cannot be proved a quarter so big as some of our Parishes) might in those times when they had no Temples, hold their publick Meetings oft at the same time in divers houses; and yet be capable of Personal Communion, as it is before described.