An original draught of the primitive Church: in answer to a discourse [by P. King] entituled, An enquiry into the constitution [&c.] of the primitive Church. By a presbyter of the Church of England [J. Slater].

Church confider'd, p. 3. The En-
quirer afferts a Congregational form
of it, p. 4. His first Authority from Irenæus
for it, proves nothing to his purpose, p. 5.
His ad is a precarious Construction of Diony-
fius Alexandrinus's Words, and inconfiftent
with that Fathers account of his own Church of
Alexandria,p. 6. &c. His 3d and laft Autho
rity from Tertullian is rather a meer Overfight,
than an Argument, p. 13. His Obfervation
of the word Church (rarely used for a Collecti-
on of Churches) fhewn to be neither material,
nor just, P, 14 He divides Church Mem-
bers and Minifters aright; but in the refpe-
tive Offices he affigns them, he vastly differs

from the Ancients, p. 16. His Mifapprehen-

fion of the different Powers conferr'd by the

Apostles on the feveral Elders they ordain'd, a

main

main ground for his Miftake; yet eafy to be

rectify'd by fome Obfervations of his own, if

apply'd to it, p. 17. &c. But to carry on that

Miftake, he ftyles the fingle Bishop of any

Church, the Supream Bishop of it, contrary to

the Language of all Antiquity, p. 23. And

thereby defeats that Catholick Teft of Diftin-

dion between Truth and Herefy of old, viz.

the Apoftolical Bishop in every true Church of

Chrift, p. 24. The artful use he makes of the

Jeveral Titles of his Supreme Bishop, p. 26.

CHAP. II. p. 28.

Primitive Diocese call'd a Church (in
the Singular Number) is no Proof of the

congregational form of it; 'twas apparently fo

in latter Ages, when a plurality of Congrega

tions was notorious: nay, Churches (in the

Plural) were often attributed to a fingle Diocefe

by the Ancients, tho' the Enquirer overlook'd

it, p. 29. His popular Argument from a

Primitive Diocese, and a modern English Pa-

rifh called by the common Name of Παροικία

confider'd at large, and refuted, p. 30. The

Congregational Notion inconfiftent with the

Numbers of Believers in Jerufalem, which

Church (tho the original Platform of Chriftian

Churches)

Churches) the Enquirer passes over, whilft he

particularly confider'd other Churches, p. 37.

Tertullian, Eufebius, and Optatus's Tefti-

monies in this Cafe, p. 39. St. Gregory's

Church in Neocæfarea a pregnant inftance

against the Enquiry, p. 42. Juftin Martyr

mifreprefented in the Enquiry, P. 44.

His

true meaning clear'd, p. 45. The like of several

Paffages in St. Ignatius, p. 46. A Primitive

Bilhop could affign diftinct Places, and Pres-

byters to officiate in them within his own Dioceje,

confefs'd by the Enquirer, p. 49: St. Igna-

tius's Πάντων ἐπὶ τὸ αυτὸ συνέλευσις and his

Mia Sénois are feverally accounted for, p. 51.

&c. And alfo his one Altar in a Diocese, p.

58. The Enquirer's Miftake about St. Cy-

prian's Diocefe communicating with him all at

once, p. 62. And that all receiv'd at the Bi-

fhops Hands only in Tertullian's Time, p 65.

And that the Bishop alone baptiz'd all, p.67.

And that he alone took a perfonal care for all

in want or diftrefs, p 68. And that thofe com-

mon Phrafes before the Church, in prefence

of the People and the like, imply d the pre-

fence of every Individual at once, p. 70.

Bishops might write Letters in the Name of

their People, and not have all prefent, P. 75.

A Miftake again, about the Bishop of Smyrna's

perfonal Knowledge of all his Diocese, p. 78.

And of the Diocefe of Magnefia having but

one

one Church in it, p. 81. The great Abfurdity
of affirming the See of Antioch to have but
one Congregation in it, p. 83. The like of the
See of Rome, p. 88. And of the See of
Carthage, p. 93. And of that of Alexan-
dria, p. 99. Some short Remarks on Bishops
placed in Villages, p. 104.