The true and only way of concord of all the Christian churches the desirableness…

§. 26. The first degenerating of single Churches grew 1. out of the ambition of the Pastors to, extend their power as far as they could; 2. and out of a desire in the people to see their assemblies as honourable for greatness, number, and concord as they might; 3. and out of a conceit that one City should have but one Bishop and so be one Governed Church.

And hereupon at Alexandria and Rome they began to have several fixed Chapels in the same City and neighbour villages, and the Bishop to send Curate-Presbyters to them as he pleased, yet so that at first they communicated frequently in the Bishops Church. After that these Presbyters were fixed and gave them the Sacraments where they came: After that they were tied to come to the Bishops Church for communion but at Easter, Whitsuntide, or some great and rare seasons: After that they were so many and far off, that they were no more obliged to come at all, or to hear or see the Bishop, but only to be distantly ruled by him, and their Presbyters. Then many Country Parishes got Bishops: But the City Bishops disagreeing with them, long after got them down.

And hereupon at Alexandria and Rome they began to have several fixed Chapels in the same City and neighbour villages, and the Bishop to send Curate-Presbyters to them as he pleased, yet so that at first they communicated frequently in the Bishops Church. After that these Presbyters were fixed and gave them the Sacraments where they came: After that they were tyed to come to the Bishops Church for communion but at Easter, Whitsontide, or some great and rare seasons: After that they were so many and far off, that they were no more obliged to come at all, or to hear or see the Bishop, but only to be distantly ruled by him, and their Presbyters. Then many Countrey Parishes got Bishops: But the City Bishops disagreeing with them, long after got them down.

§. 27. Were it true that every City in the old sense should have a Bishop and but one, it would follow that every Corporation or great Town or Borough (called Market Towns) in England should have one; the word [[Greek or Hebrew]] signifying such of old. And were it so, and the Country Parishes adjoining made Chapels and distributed accordingly to the several Towns, it would be like the old state of the Church about three hundred and four hundred and five hundred years after Christ, and much better than it is, though not as it should be.