Five disputations of church-government and worship

The Reverend Author saith as Bishop Downam before cited [That when the Gospel was first preached by the Apostles and but few Converted, they ordained in every City and region, no more but a Bishop and one or more Deacons to attend him, there being at the present so small store out of which to take more, and so small need of ordaining more, that this Bishop is constituted more for the sake of those which should after believe, then of those which did already.] 2. And its proved thus: If there were in Scripture times any more ordinary Worshipping Assemblies on the Lords days then one under one Bishop, then either they did Preach, Pray, Praise God, and administer the Lords Supper in those Assemblies, or they did not: If not, then 1. They were no such Worshipping Assemblies as we speak of. 2. And they should sin against Christ who required it. 3. And differ from his Churches which ordinarily used it. But if they did thus, then either they had some Pastor (Presbyter or Bishop) to perform these holy actions between God and the people, or not: If not, then they suppose that Lay-men might do all this Ministerial work, in Word, Sacraments, Prayer, and Praise in the name of the Assembly, &c. And if so, what then is proper to the Ministry? then farewell Bishops and Presbyters too. If not, the• ••her the Bishop must be in two Assemblies at once performing the Holy Worship of God in their communion (but that's impossible:) or else he must have some assisting Presbyters to do it; But that's denied: Therefore it must needs follow that the Church order, constitution and practised Government which was in Scripture times, was this; that a single Worshipping Congregation was that particular Church which had a Presbyter or Bishop (one or more) which watched over and ruled that only Congregation as his Diocese or ⟨p. 60⟩proper charge, having no Government of any other Church (Congregation) or Elders. De facto this is plainly yielded.

The Reverend Author saith as Bishop Downam before cited [That when the Gospel was first preached by the Apostles and but few Converted, they ordained in every City and region, no more but a Bishop and one or more Deacons to attend him, there being at the present so smal store out of which to take more, and so small need of ordaining more, that this Bishop is constituted more for the sake of those which should after believe, then of those which did already.] 2. And its proved thus: If there were in Scripture times any more ordinary Worshiping Assemblies on the Lords dayes then one under one Bishop, then either they did Preach, Pray, Praise God, and administer the Lords Supper in those Assemblies, or they did not: If not, then 1. They were no such Worshipping Assemblies as we speak of. 2. And they should sin against Christ who required it. 3. And differ from his Churches which ordinarily used it. But if they did thus, then either they had some Pastor (Presbyter or Bishop) to perform these holy actions between God and the people, or not: If not, then they suppose that Lay-men might do all this Ministerial work, in Word, Sacraments, Prayer, and Praise in the name of the Assembly, &c. And if so, what then is proper to the Ministry? then farewell Bishops and Presbyters too. If not, the her the Bishop must be in two Assemblies at once performing the Holy Worship of God in their communion (but thats impossible:) or else he must have some assisting Presbyters to do it; But thats denyed: Therefore it must needs follow that the Church order, constitution and practised Government which was in Scripture times, was this; that a single Worshipping Congregation was that particular Church which had a Presbyter or Bishop (one or more) which watched over and ruled that only Congregation as his Diocess or