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

It may be the Dr. is not so well acquainted with the Principles and Practise of the Congregational way, and therefore thinks that these things are contrary unto them. But those of that way, do maintain that there ought to be in every particular Congregation unto the completeness of it, many Elders or Overseers; that the number of them ought to be increased, as the increase of the Church makes it necessary for their Edification, that the members of such a Church may and ought to meet occasionally in distinct Assemblies, especially in the time of Persecution, for Prayer, Preaching of the Word and mutual Exhortation; so when Peter was in Prison after the Death of James, many met together in the House of Mary to Pray, Acts 12.12. Which was not a meeting of the whole Church. And that there were such private meetings, of the Members of the same Church in times of Persecution, among the Primitive Churches, may be proved by a Multiplication of instances; but still they continued one Church, and joined together in all Acts of Church Communion properly so called, especially if it were possible every Lords-day, as Justin Martyr declares that the Church did in his time. For all the Christians saith he then, in the City and Villages about, gathered together in one place for the Ends mentioned. ⟨p. 359⟩But still these distinct occasional Assemblies, did not constitute any distinct Societies or Corporations, as the distinct Companies do in a City. But saith he, grant one single Bishop over all these Elders, and they make up that representation of a Church, which we have from the best and purest Antiquity. I say we would quickly grant it, could we see any warrant for it, or if he could prove that so it was from the beginning. However this is no part of our present contest, namely, whether some while after the days of the Apostles, in Churches that were greatly increased, and many Elders in them, there was not one chosen, (as at Alexandria,) by those Elders themselves, to preside among them, who in a peculiar manner was called a Bishop.

It may be the Dr. is not so well acquainted with the Principles and Practise of the Congregational way, and therefore thinks that these things are contrary unto them. But those of that way, do maintain that there ought to be in every particular Congregation unto the compleatness of it, many Elders or Overseers; that the number of them ought to be encreased, as the encrease of the Church makes it necessary for their Edification, that the members of such a Church may and ought to meet occasionally in distinct Assemblies, especially in the time of Persecution, for Prayer, Preaching of the Word and mutual Exhortation; so when Peter was in Prison after the Death of James, many met together in the House of Mary to Pray,