Five disputations of church-government and worship

The next that I shall cite is Tertullian, that well known place in his Apolog. c. 39. [Corpus sumus de conscientia Religionis & Discipline unitate & spei feeder. Coimus in coetum & Congregationem ut ad Deum quasi manu facta precationibus ambiamus ⟨p. 94⟩orantes. — Cogimur ad div•narum literarum Commemorationem —Certè fidem sanctis vocibus pascimus, spem erigimus, fiduciam figimus, disciplinam praceptorum nihilominus inculcationibus densamus: ibidem etiam exhortationes, Castigationes, & censura Divina: nam & judicatur magno cum pondere ut apud certos de Dei conspectu; summumque futuri judicii praejudicium est siquis ita deliquerit, ut à communicatione Orationis, & conventus, & omnis sancti commercii relegetur. Praesident probati quiq, seniors, &c.] If I be able to understand Tertullian, it is here plain that each church consisted of one Congregation, which assembled for Worship, and Discipline at once or in one place, and this Church was it that had Presidents or Seniors to guide them both in Worship and by Discipline. So that if there were any more of these Assemblies in one particular Political Church, then there were more Bishops then one, or else others besides Bishops exercised this Discipline: But indeed its here plainly intimated that Bishops were then the Guides of Congregations (single,) and not of Diocess•s consisting of many such.

The next that I shall cite is Tertullian, that well known place in his Apolog. c. 39. [Corpus sumus de conscientia Religionis & Discipline unitate & spei federe. Coimus in coetum & Congregationem ut ad Deum quasi manu facta precationibus ambiamus ⟨p. 94⟩orantes. — Cogimur ad div•narum literarum Commemorationem —Certè fidem sanctis vocibus pascimus, spem erigimus, fiduciam figimus, disciplinam praceptorum nihilominus inculcationibus densamus: ibidem etiam exhortationes, Castigationes, & censura Divina: nam & judicatur magno cum pondere ut apud certos de Dei conspectu; summumque futuri judicii praejudicium est siquis ita deliquerit, ut à communicatione Orationis, & conventus, & omnis sancti commercii relegetur. Praesident probati quiq, seniores, &c.] If I be able to understand Tertullian, it is here plain that each •hurch consisted of one Congregation, which assembled for Worship, and Discipline at once or in one place, and this Church was it that had Presidents or Seniors to guide them both in Worship and by Discipline. So that if there were any more of these Assemblies in one particular Political Church, then there were more Bishops then one, or else others besides Bishops exercised this Discipline: But indeed its here plainly intimated that Bishops were then the Guides of Congregations (single,) and not of Diocesss consisting of many such.