3.  The multitude of believers must needs be great at Ephesus:  For, 1.  Why should Paul, who had universal commission to plant churches in all the world, stay above two years together at Ephesus if no more had been converted there than to make up one single congregation?  Acts xix. 8, 10. 2.  During this space, “all that dwelt in Asia,” usually meeting at Ephesus for worship, “heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks,” Acts xix. 10. 3.  At the knowledge of Paul’s miracles, “fear fell upon all the Jews and Greeks dwelling at Ephesus, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified,” Acts xix. 17. 4. Many of the believers came and confessed, and showed their deeds, ver. 18, whereby is intimated that more did believe than did thus. 5.  “Many also of them that used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men, and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver,” (this they would never have done publicly if the major part, or at least a very great and considerable part of the city, had not embraced the faith, that city being so furiously zealous in their superstition and idolatry,) “so mightily grew the word of God, and prevailed,” Acts xix. 19, 20. 6. Paul testifies that at Ephesus a great door and effectual was open unto him, viz. a most advantageous opportunity of bringing in a mighty harvest of souls to Christ, 1 Cor. xvi. 8, 9.  Put all together, 1.  The number of prophets and preachers; 2.  The gifts of tongues conferred upon those prophets; and, 3.  The multitude of believers which so abounded at Ephesus:  how is it possible to imagine, upon any solid ground, that there was no more but one single congregation in the church of Ephesus?

IV.  The church of Corinth in Graecia comprised in it also more congregations than one, as may be justly concluded from, 1.  The multitude of believers. 2.  The plenty of ministers. 3.  The diversity of tongues and languages. 4.  And the plurality of churches at Corinth.  Let all these be well compared together.

1.  From the multitude of believers.  There appears to be a greater number of believers at Corinth than could all at once meet together to partake of all the ordinances of Christ:  For, 1.  At Paul’s first coming to Corinth, and at his first sermon preached in the house of Justus, it is said, “And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord, and all his house, and many of the Corinthians hearing, believed and were baptized,” Acts xviii. 1, 7, 8.  Here is Crispus and all his house, (which probably was very great, he being the chief ruler of the synagogue,) and many of the Corinthians, believing; an excellent first-fruits; for who can justly say but Paul at his first sermon converted so many as might be sufficient to make up one single congregation? 2.  Immediately after this (Paul having shook his raiment against the Jews, who, contrary to his doctrine, opposed themselves and