Libya, to the Straits of Gibralter, four hundred and sixty-six Dioceses. In the single Province of Africa Zengitanea, of which Carthage was the Metropolis, there were over one hundred. The size of this Province was but little more than three-fourths of the Diocese of New York. This was about A. D. 400, somewhat later than the limit, A. D. 325, which we have proposed in this paper. This notitia is referred to, simply to show that in earlier records, though we have the names of many Bishops and Episcopal Sees, in all probability we have now no means of ascertaining the half of those which really existed.

In the time of Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, A. D. 250, we have co-temporaneous authority, not perhaps to arrive at a clear idea of the actual size of Dioceses, but sufficient to show that, at the very largest, there were twenty or thirty within the space of the average size of our Dioceses, even upon the Atlantic coast, where the Church has been longest established. Cyprian himself, in one of his Epistles, speaks of his settling the affairs of his own Church and Province after the persecution, in connection with thirty-one other Bishops. From the circumstances of the case, doubtless these all belonged to his own Province; for it is not probable that one, who so jealously guarded his Metropolitical rights on other occasions, would permit Bishops of other Provinces to interfere in the regulation of the affairs of his own Church. The persecution here alluded to was that one of extreme severity, under the Emperor Decius, and continued by his successor, Gallus, which ceased at the death of the latter, A. D. 253. If, after such a persecution, thirty-two Bishops were still left to meet together in a Synod, part of whose duties was, in all likelihood, to consecrate Bishops for the vacant Sees, we may without hesitation conclude, that previously they had far exceeded the number of thirty-two. A short time after this, Cyprian called together a Synod, for the purpose of settling the question of the re-baptizing of heretics, at which we find seventy-two Bishops assembled, and not long after, another Synod, at which eightyfive Bishops were present. Stephen, Bishop of Rome, had taken the contrary side of this question, and maintained the

validity of heretical Baptism. To exert a greater influence, in opposition to so prominent a See, Bishops were invited from all parts of Africa. We cannot, in consequence, say how many of the eighty-five assembled were Suffragans of the Bishop of Carthage. For, although we have the names of those Bishops, and the titles of their Sees, preserved in the records of the Synod, there is much uncertainty as to the particular Province to which many of them were attached. It is probable, however, that there were but few, beside Metropolitans, from other Provinces. But, taking only the thirty-two, whom we know to have survived the Decian persecution, their Sees will average no more than twenty-two miles in each direction.

3. For a view of the Church in France, we will select that Province of which Arles was the Metropolis, and in which a Council, consisting of members from a number of the Western Provinces, was held, A. D. 314. This was the part of France which first received Christianity, and which suffered most severely from the persecutions of the heathen Emperors. Here, too, we find the smallest Dioceses within the limits of ancient Gaul, agreeing perfectly with the assertion, made at the commencement of this paper, that Dioceses, as a rule, were smaller in proportion to the earliness of the date at which they received their first Bishop. In the Province Arelatensis, or Viennensis Secunda, Bingham informs us, out of Carolus a Sancto Paulo, that there were ten Dioceses. Four of these we find represented at the Council of Arles. In this Province there were about five thousand five hundred square miles. If we take into consideration only the four Sees, whose Bishops were present at that Council, we have an average extent, for the jurisdiction of each, of one thousand three hundred and seventy-five square miles, or about thirty-six miles in each direction.

4. For a view of the size of Dioceses, during the time of Constantine, we will select, first, the neighborhood of Antioch. Better to illustrate our reference, we append an outline map of this region.

The whole region between the Mediterranean and the Euphrates was called Syria, and, in the ancient Church, was divided into several Provinces. The four northernmost of these will give a fair indication of the extent of Dioceses at that period. In the neighboring Province of Palestine they were considerably smaller, but then, these latter were, probably, of much earlier date in their establishment. In the four Provinces, spoken of above, viz: Syria Prima, Syria Secunda, Euphratesia, and Theodorias, with but limited research, twenty Dioceses have been verified as existing at the time of Constantine. Later notitia give twenty-nine as the whole number. Most of these, in all probability, existed as early as A. D. 325. In Syria Prima, with an area of about five thousand four hundred square miles, we have five Dioceses, viz: Antioch, Selucia, Berræa, Gindarus, and Chalcis, giving an average extent to each of thirty-two miles in length and breadth. In Syria Secunda, situated inland about midway between the Mediterranean and the Euphrates, we have four Dioceses, viz: Apamea, Arethusa, Larissa, and Seleucobelus. Three others are given by later authors, Epiphania, Mariamne, and Raphanaea, and Bingham asserts, that seven was the ancient number. This Province contained an area of about four thousand eight hundred square miles. Reckoning only the four Dioceses, which have been verified as existing at the beginning of the Fourth Century, they have an average extent of thirty-four miles in each direction. In the Province of Euphratesia, which extended along the West side of the Euphrates river, we have seven Dioceses, viz: Hieropolis, Cyrus, (which some place in Syria Prima,) Samosata, Doliche, Germanicia, Zeugma, and NeoCæsarea. Later notitia give seven others, making in all fourteen. Bingham asserts, that the ancient number was thirteen. This Province contained about eight thousand square miles. Reckoning only the seven Dioceses, first mentioned, they have an average extent of thirty-three miles in length and breadth. In the fourth Province, Theodorias, there were four Dioceses, and the same number is all that is given in later notitiæ, viz: Laodicea, Balanea, Gabala, and Paltus. In this Province there was an area of about sixteen thousand square miles,

giving an average extent to each of twenty miles in length and breadth. Or, putting the four Provinces together, we have an extent of country nine-tenths of the size of the Diocese of New York, in which, A. D. 325, there were twenty Bishoprics. And whoever examines carefully into the size of Dioceses, during the Fourth Century, will readily perceive, that those in Syria, if anything, exceeded in area the majority.

This computation of the extent of Dioceses in Syria must be put in comparison with the average extent at earlier periods, previously stated, as though in later times they were smaller. In consequence of the more numerous writings of the Fourth Century, we are able to obtain a more accurate account of the state of the Church; and the number of Dioceses, mentioned in co-temporary writers, more nearly approaches the full number of those really existing. Although there is strong circumstantial evidence, that many cities recorded in later notitia were made Episcopal Sees at a very early date, none are taken into consideration except those which are mentioned as having Bishops, by co-temporary writers. Since these Bishops are spoken of but incidentally, it would indeed be contrary to all probability, that we should find, in an extremely limited number of writers, all the Sees in any one Province distinctly mentioned. We find, in fact, the names of many Bishops without the titles of any See attached to them, but mentioned in such a manner as to imply that they belong to Provinces, to all of whose known Dioceses other Bishops have elsewhere been assigned, making it thus certain, that there were more Dioceses, although their names have not been handed down by cotemporary writers.

5. In Palestine, where, most of all, we should expect to see the impress of Apostolic direction in reference to the oversight and government of the Churches, we find the Dioceses exceedingly small. Taking the Province of Palestina Prima, of which we have the most complete record, we find Episcopal Sees five, seven, and ten miles from each other. In the case of three Sees, viz: Gaza, Maiuma, (which was constituted a city and Bishopric by Constantine,) and Anthedon, Sozomen mentions particularly that they were not above three miles 51*

VOL. XIV.