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

Churches were originally planted in Cities and Townes for the most part; not absolutely, for the Word was preached and Churches gathered by the Apostles [Greek or Hebrew], as Clemens testifieth. In such Cities there was but one Church, whereunto all Believers did belong. I mention this the rather because our present Author who is pleased frequently to mistake my Words and Principles, affirms that the thing which I should have proved, is, that there were more Churches at first planted in one City, than one. I know not why I should be obliged to do so, because I never said so. I do believe indeed that there may be more particular Churches than one, in one City; and that sometimes it is better that it should be so, then that all Believers in the same City, should be kept up unto one Congregation to the Obstruction of their Edification. But that there were originally or in the days of the Apostles more Churches than one, in any one City or Town, I do wholly deny; though I grant at the same time there were Churches in Villages also, as will appear afterwards. But though there was one Church only in one Town or City, yet all the Believers that belonged unto that Church, did not live in that City, but sundry of them in the Fields and Villages about. So Justin Martyr tells us, that on the first day of the week when the Church had its solemn Assemblies, all the Members of it in the City and out of the Country, the Fields and Villages about, met together in the same place. In process of time these Believers in the Country, did greatly increase, by the means of the Ministry of the City-Church, which diligently attended unto the Conversion ⟨p. 26⟩of all sorts of men, with some extraordinary helps besides. But hereon the Example of the Apostles was overseen. For on this account of the Conversion of many unto the Faith, in the Towns and Villages of any Province, they erected and planted new Churches among them, not obliging them all unto that first Church, from whence the Word went forth for their Conversion. But those who succeeded them, being hindered by many Reasons which may be easily recounted, from Thoughts of the Multiplication of Churches, chose rather to give the Believers scattered up and down in the Country, occasional Assistance by Presbyters of their own, than to dispose them into a Church State and Order.

Churches were originally planted in Cities and Townes for the most part; not absolutely, for the Word was preached and Churches gathered by the Apostles 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, as Clemens testifieth. In such Cities there was but one Church, whereunto all Beleivers did belong. I mention this the rather because our present Author who is pleased frequently to mistake my Words and Principles, affirms that the thing which I should have proved, is, that there were more Churches at first planted in one City, than one. I know not why I should be obliged to do so, because I never said so. I do believe indeed that there may be more particular Churches than one, in one City; and that sometimes it is better that it should be so, then that all Beleivers in the same City, should be kept up unto one Congregation to the Obstruction of their Edification. But that there were originally or in the days of the Apostles more Churches than one, in any one City or Town, I do wholly deny; though I grant at the same time there were Churches in Villages also, as will appear afterwards. But though there was one Church only in one Town or City, yet all the Believers that belonged unto that Church, did not live in that City, but sundry of them in the Fields and Villages about. So Justin Martyr tells us, that on the first day of the week when the Church had its solemn Assemblies, all the Members of it in the City and out of the Country, the Fields and Villages about, met together in the same place. In process of time these Believers in the Country, did greatly encrease, by the means of the Ministry of the City-Church, which diligently attended unto the Conversion