6

4

To the matter of the church in respect of its

quantity ought not to be of greater number [then]

may ordinarily meet together conveniently in [one]

place^(a) nor ordinarily fewer then may carry o[ut]

church-work; Hence, when the holy Scripture ma[keth]

mention of the saints combined into church-esta[te]

in a Towne or Citty where was but one Cong[gre]

gation, it usually calleth those saints the chur[ch]

in the singular number, as the church of the

thessalonians, the church of Smyrna, Philadelphia [&]

y^e like. But when it speakes of the saints in [a]

Nation ^^{or Province} wherein there were sundry congregation[ns]

it frequently & usually calleth them by y^e nam[e]

of churches in the plurall number, as, y^e chu[rches]

of Asia^(b), Galatia^(c), Macedonia^(d) & y^e like^(e). w[hich]

is further confirmed by what is written of sund[ry]

of those churches in pticular, how they were asse[mbled]

& met together, the whole church in one place

the church at Jerusalem^(f), y^e church at Antioch^(g),

y^e church at Corinth^(h). And Cenchrea, though it

were neere to Corinth, (it being the Port

thereof, and answereable to a village) yet being [a]

distinct Congregation from Corinth it had a chur[ch]

of it owne as well as Corinth had⁽ⁱ⁾      (a) 1 Cor[cut off]

(b) 1 Cor. 16. 29 (c) Gal.1.1.  2 Cor. 16.1  (d) 2 Cor.8.1. (e) 1 Th[cut off]

(f) Act.2.46. & 5.12. & 6.1. (g) Act.14.27. & 15.30. (h) 1 Co[r] [cut off]

4. & 14.23.  (i) Rom. 16.1.

5

Nor can it w^th reason be thought but that every

church appointed & ordayned by ch^t, had a ministery

ordayned & appointed for the same. Yet plaine