Parish Law. СНАР. I. Of the Original and Inftitution of Churches and "B EING to treat of Parish Officers, it may not 2. A little before our Bleffed Saviour's Afcenfion, he gave his Apofties Commiffion to go and teach all Nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, &c. which they immediately began, God affift Christianity. ing them with many Signs and Miracles. But we do not No Churches in read in Sacred Writ, that at the firft Propagation of Chriftia- the Beginning of nity, there were any fixed or determinate Boundaries for the Apostles to exercise their Sacred Function in; though we read in Scripture, that St. Paul himself conftituted Timothy Bishop at Ephefus, and Titus at Crete. fettled. 3. In like Manner was there also a Bishop at Rome, which, In what Places at that time, was the chief Seat of the Roman Empire; and Bishops were firf the Number of Chriftians increafing, as the Romans had in large Cities a Præfectus Prætorii, and in leffer Cities a Vicarius Præfecti Prætorii, it was thought proper to fettle a Bifhop in every City, who was Superintendant over the Affairs of the Church, not only within the Walls of the City, but in the Vills and District thereto belonging. dained. 4. But the Number of Chriftians ftill augmenting, the Bi- Prefbyters.or fhop alone was not able to fuftain fo great a Weight, Prefbyters therefore were ordained to affift him; and Numbers of Converts being daily made, fo that one Church could not fuffice them, it became neceffary to build more, especially in the Country; and one chief Rufinefs of the Prefbyters was, by the Bishop's Direction, to go and officiate at thofe leffer B Churches, |