A second true defence of the mere nonconformists against the untrue accusations, reasonings, and…A second true defence of the meer nonconformists against the untrue accusations, reasonings, and…

And yet he saith, This is a fair representation of my opinion.

Sect. 2. Coming to prove our Episcopacy the same with the Primitive he pretendeth to confute me: That which I asserted was, 1. That by the first Institution, and Constitution, every Church no bigger for number of Souls than one of our great Parishes had a Bishop of their own, (one or more I disputed not.) 2. Yea that for the first two hundred years if not more, no one Bishop had a Church so big as some of our Parishes, at least except Alexandria and Rome, and even of them it is not certain that they had more Souls. 3. That after by degrees the case was altered: But yet after there were many Meetings like Chapels, a while there was but one Altar. 4. After that those Chapels had Altars; but so as that at certain times of the year, the people of the Cities and next parts were all to communicate with the Bishop, and were no more than could meet to choose the Bishops, and to be present as to the main body of them, and disciplinary debates, to give consent. 5. In Cyprian's time at Carthage (a place of greatness and great numbers of Christians) the Church was grown very great, but not beyond the exercise of such personal Communion as I described: And the Bishops there and round about being worthy men, kept up the life of the former Discipline. And as great as their Church was, we would be glad of such an Episcopacy, Order and Communion. For I oft told you, that by present Communion, I meant not that all must meet in one place at once, (For the tenth part of some Parishes cannot:) But that as Neighbours and Citizens, may have personal Converse and Meetings per vices, of some at one time and some at another, as different from mere mental Communion, or by Synods or Persons delegate, or as their Governors or Representatives, and this for mutual Edification in holy Doctrine, Worship and Conversation. And that the footsteps of this remained long, when worldly Reasons had made a change.

Sect. 2. Coming to prove our Episcopacy the same with the Primitive he pretendeth to confute me: That which I asserted was, 1. That by the first Institution, and Constitution, every Church no bigger for number of Souls than one of our great Parishes had a Bishop of their own, (one or more I disputed not.) 2. Yea that for the first two hundred years if not more, no one Bishop had a Church so big as some of our Parishes, at least except Alexandria and Rome, and even of them it is not certain that they had more Souls. 3. That after by degrees the case was altered: But yet after there were many Meetings like Chappels, a while there was but one Altar. 4. After that those Chappels had Altars; but so as that at certain times of the year, the people of the Cities and next parts were all to communicate with the Bishop, and were no more than could meet to choose the Bishops, and to be present as to the main body of them, and disciplinary debates, to give consent. 5. In Cyprian's time at Carthage (a place of greatness and great numbers of Christians) the Church was grown very great, but not beyond the exercise of such personal Communion as I described: And the Bishops there and round about being worthy men, kept up the life of the former Discipline. And as great as their Church was, we would be glad of such an Episcopacy, Order and Communion. For I oft told you, that by present Communion, I meant not that all must meet in one place at once, (For the tenth part of some Parishes cannot:) But that as Neighbours and Citizens, may have personal Converse and Meetings per vices, of some at one time and some at another, as different from meer mental Communion, or by Synods or Persons delegate, or as their Governours or Representatives, and this for mutual Edification in holy Doctrine, Worship and Conversation. And that the footsteps of this remained long, when worldly Reasons had made a change.