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

the especial Apostles of the Churches; as vers. 19. it is said of Luke that he was [Greek or Hebrew], chosen and appointed by the Churches for the service there mentioned. Such was this Bishop, who was sent on Gods Errand, to assist the Church by his Advice and Counsel, as unto the continuance of their Assemblies unto the glory of God, though at present their Bishop was taken from them. In that Epistle unto the Ephesians, he lets them know that he rejoiced at their [Greek or Hebrew], their numerous Multitude, whom he persuades and urgeth unto a common concurrence in Prayer with their Bishop. [Greek or Hebrew]. And if the Prayers of one or two be so effectual, that they bring Christ among them, how much more will the consenting Prayer of the Bishop and the whole Church together? So he again explains his mind towards the end of the Epistle; [Greek or Hebrew]. Do your diligence to meet together frequently; for when you frequently meet together in the same place, the powers of Satan are destroyed. And many other expressions of the like nature occur in those Epistles. We are no way at present concerned in the controversy about that distinction of Bishops and Presbyters, which the Writer of those Epistles doth assert; ⟨p. 105⟩this only I say, that he doth in none of them, take the least notice, or give the least intimation of any Church-state, but such alone, wherein the Members of the whole Church did constantly meet together in the same place, for the worship of God and Communion among themselves. And not only so, but he every where in all his Epistles to them, ascribes such Duties and Rights unto the Churches, as cannot be observed and preserved but in particular Churches only. Nor doth he leave any room for any other Church-state whatever. Although therefore, there might have been, and probably there was some Alterations in the Order of the Churches, from what was of Primitive Institution; yet was there as yet no such change in their state, as to make way for those greater alterations, which not long after ensued.

the especial Apostles of the Churches; as vers. 19. it is said of Luke that he was 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, chosen and appointed by the Churches for the service there mentioned. Such was this Bishop, who was sent on Gods Errand, to assist the Church by his Advice and Counsel, as unto the continuance of their Assemblies unto the glory of God, though at present their Bishop was taken from them. In that Epistle unto the Ephesians, he lets them know that he rejoyced at their , their numerous Multitude, whom he perswades and urgeth unto a common concurrence in Prayer with their Bishop. . And if the Prayers of one or two be so effectual, that they bring Christ among them, how much more will the consenting Prayer of the Bishop and the whole Church together? So he again explains his mind towards the end of the Epistle; . Do your diligence to meet together frequently; for when you frequently meet together in the same place, the powers of Sathan are destroyed. And many other expressions of the like nature occur in those Epistles. We are no way at present concerned in the controversie about that distinction of Bishops and Presbyters, which the Writer of those Epistles doth assert;