o were
teachers by office.

III. From the variety of languages among the disciples at Jerusalem, it
is evident there were more congregations than one in that one church:
the diversity of languages among them is plainly mentioned in divers
places, "And there were dwelling at Jerusalem, Jews, devout men out of
every nation under heaven. Now every man heard them speak in his own
language," &c., Acts ii. 5, 8-12. Now, of those that heard this variety
of languages, and Peter's sermon thereupon, "They that gladly received
his word, were baptized, and the same day there were added about three
thousand souls," Acts ii. 41, which diversity of languages necessitated
those members of the church of Jerusalem to enjoy the ordinances in
divers distinct congregations in their own language. And that they might
so do, the Spirit furnished the apostles, &c., with diversity of
languages, which diversity of languages were as well for edification of
them within the Church, as for a sign to them that were without.

_Except_. Though the Jews being dispersed were come in from other
countries, yet they were all generally learned, and understood the
Hebrew tongue, the language of their own nation, so that diversity of
tongues proves not, that of necessity there must be distinct places to
meet in.

_Ans_. 1. It is easier said than proved, that the Jews were so generally
skilled in the Hebrew tongue, when, while they were scattered in Media
and Parthia, and other places, they had no universities or schools of
learning. Besides, it is not to be forgotten, that the proper language
or dialect in those days in use among the Jews was Syriac; as appears by
divers instances of Syriac words in the New Testament, as of the Jews'
own terms: Acts i. 19, which "in their proper tongue, is called
Aceldama;" John xix. 13. 17, _Gabbatha, Golgotha_, &c.; Mark xv. 34,
_Eloi, Eloi, lama-sabachthani_; with divers other pure Syriac terms.
Grant they did; yet,

2. There were in Jerusalem proselytes also, Romans, Cappadocians,
Cretians, and Arabians, Acts ii. 10, 11; how could they be edified in
the faith, if only one congregation, where nothing but Hebrew was
spoken, met in Jerusalem; if so be there were not other congregations
for men of other languages, that understood not the Hebrew tongue?

IV. From the manner of Christians' public meetings in those primitive
times, both in the church of Jerusalem and in other churches. It is
plain that the multitudes of Chri