4. Conclusion. There is a visible governing Church in the new Testament, whose members in complete number of believers doth not meet in one place ordinarily for the worship of God, neither can they continually so meet. 1. The Church of Jerusalem was one Church, under one government, and called one Church in the singular number, which grew from one hundred and twenty, Acts 1. to three thousand one hundred and twenty, Acts 4. 41. and then added to these, Acts 4. 4. five thousand men, which is eight thousand one hundred and twenty. And Acts 9. 35. all that dwelt at Lydda and Sharon turned to the Lord, v. 42. many in Joppa believed in the Lord, Acts 20. 21. many thousands of the Jews believed, Acts 5. 14. multitudes of believers moe were added to the Lord, both of men and women, Acts 6. 1. their number were multiplied. Now it was not possible they could all meet in one house, especially seeing that prophecy was to take its first accomplishment at Jerusalem, 1where all flesh was to see the salvation of God. And that of Joel 2. I will pour my spirit on all flesh. 2Its true Bath saith, this Church was numerous by accident, at extraordinary confluences of strangers. Yet the multitudes of thousands which I have observed from the story of the Acts (granting the confluence, Acts 2. of nations to be extraordinary) did meet daily, Acts 2. 46. from house to house. Now so many thousands could not meet daily, that is, ordinarily. 2. From house to house in private houses, and so it is not possible all that people did make but one Congregation independent, where 1▪ all had voices in discipline. 2. all did break bread, that is, receive the Sacrament in a private house: so that their meeting together must be taken distributively in diverse Congregations, not collectively, for that were against edification. 2. against the nature of congregational worship. 2. There was a visible Church in Samaria under one government, that could not convene in all the members, in one place. The numerous ⟨p. 75⟩people in Samaria converted to the faith is known to all, it being the head City of the ten Tribes: So huge that all Israel was named Samaria, They received the faith, Acts 8. and as ver. 10. They all gave heed to Simon Magus, from the least to the greatest. So ver. 6. with one accord they gave heed unto these things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles that he wrought, ver.
4. Conclusion. There is a visible governing Church in the new Testament, whose members in compleat number of beleevers doth not meet in one place ordinarily for the worship of God, neither can they continually so meet. 1. The Church of Jerusalem was one Church, under one government, and called one Church in the singular number, which grew from one hundred and twenty, Acts 1. to three thousand one hundred and twenty, Acts 4. 41. and then added to these, Acts 4. 4. five thousand men, which is eight thousand one hundred and twenty. And Acts 9. 35. all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron turned to the Lord, v. 42. many in Joppa beleeved in the Lord, Acts 20. 21. many thousands of the Jewes beleeved, Acts 5. 14. multitudes of beleevers moe were added to the Lord, both of men and women, Acts 6. 1. their number were multiplyed. Now it was not possible they could all meet in one house, especially seeing that prophecye was to take its first accomplishment at Jerusalem, 1where all flesh was to see the salvation of God. And that of Joel 2. I will poure my spirit on all flesh. 2Its true Bayne saith, this Church was numerous by accident, at extraordinary confluences of strangers. Yet the multitudes of thousands which I have observed from the story of the Acts (granting the confluence, Acts 2. of nations to be extraordinary) did meet daily, Acts 2. 46. from house to house. Now so many thousands could not meet daily, that is, ordinarily. 2. From house to house in private houses, and so it is not possible all that people did make but one Congregation independent, where 1▪ all had voices in discipline. 2. all did breake bread, that is, receive the Sacrament in a private house: so that their meeting together must be taken distributively in diverse Congregations, not collectively, for that were against edification. 2. against the nature of congregationall worship. 2. There was a visible Church in Samaria under one government, that could not convene in all the members, in one place. The numerous
- 1Isa. 405.
- 2Baynes Diocesantry. q. 1. p. 15.
