An enquiry into the original, nature, institution, power, order and communion of evangelical churches.…

3. The Greatness, Power, Fame, or Civil Authority of the Place or City where any Church was planted, gave it an Advantage and Privilege in Reputation above others. And the Churches planted in such Cities were quickly more numerous in their Members, than others were, unless men strictly kept themselves unto the force of Primitive Institutions, it was very hard for them to think and Judge, that a a Church, it may be in a small Village or Town in Galilee, should be Equal with that at Jerusalem or at Antioch, or afterwards at Rome itself. The Generality of men easily suffered themselves to be persuaded that those Churches were advanced in State and Order, far above the other obscure, poor Congregations. That there should be a Church at Rome, the Head City of the world, was a Matter of great Joy and Triumph unto many, and the Advancement of it in Reputation, they thought belonged unto the Honour of our Religion, Howbeit there is not in the Scripture, the least regard expressed unto any of these things, of place, number, or possibility of outward splendour, either in the Promises of the Presence of Christ in, and with his Churches, or in the Communication of Power & Privileges unto them. Yet such an improvement did this foolish Imagination find, that after those who presided in the Churches called in the principal ⟨p. 85⟩Cities, had tasted of the sweetness of the bait which lay in the Ascription of a Preeminence unto them, they began openly to claim it unto themselves, and to usurp Authority over other Churches, Confirming their own Usurpation by Canons and Rules, until a few of them in the Council of Nice began to divide the Christian world among themselves, as if it had been been Conquered by them. Hence proceeded those shameful contests that were among the greater Prelates about their Preheminency; and hence arose that Pretence of the Bishops of Rome, unto no less a Right of Rule and Dominion over all Christian Churches, than the City had over all the Nations and Cities of the Empire, which being carried on by all sorts of evil Artifices, as by downright Forgeries, shameless Intrusions of themselves, impudent laying hold of all Advantages unto their own exaltation, prevailed at length unto the utter ruin of all Church Order and worship.

3. The Greatness, Power, Fame, or Civil Authority of the Place or City where any Church was planted, gave it an Advantage and Priviledge in Reputation above others. And the Churches planted in such Cities were quickly more numerous in their Members, than others were, unless men strictly kept themselves unto the force of Primitive Institutions, it was very hard for them to think and Judge, that a a Church, it may be in a small Village or Town in Galilee, should be Equal with that at Hierusalem or at Antioch, or afterwards at Rome itself. The Generality of men easily suffered themselves to be persuaded that those Churches were advanced in State and Order, far above the other obscure, poor Congregations. That there should be a Church at Rome, the Head City of the world, was a Matter of great Joy and Triumph unto many, and the Advancement of it in Reputation, they thought belonged unto the Honour of our Religion, Howbeit there is not in the Scripture, the least regard expressed unto any of these things, of place, number, or possibility of outward splendor, either in the Promises of the Presence of Christ in, and with his Churches, or in the Communication of Power & Priviledges unto them. Yet such an improvement did this foolish Imagination find, that after those who presided in the Churches called in the principal