Now this great decay of Difcipline, and vile corruption and abufe of the Remains, of it, in the laft Ages, did loudly call for and neceffarily require a Reformation in the Church; and the Reformation that hath been with us, hath well fet aside the Abufers and put down the Corruptions that prevailed to the deftruction of Chri ftianity; but hath not re-established, or could not re-establish that Apoftolical Difcipline to the advantage of Christianity, which should have been reftored in the Church of Chrift when these were taken away. It is not hard to apprehend how it came to pass that the Church of England hath failed in that great piece of Reformation which it aimed at in this point, the' receiving of publick Fenance. Befides the common obftructions which all good Pretences will ever meet with, in all communities of hriftians, from the Vices and Wickedness of men that always oppofe the fame; there might fome particular Reasons be affigned in this cafe, why the defire of fo evident a Reformation could not take place, when Reformation in the 1 Church was fo generally fought; from the fhare which Human Policy had in that Change which was brought to pafs in the - Church, and the different aim which many following that purfued, from what

those

thofe that had no other aim but the Reformation of the Church and the advantage of true Religion, endeavoured but could not to its full effect accomplish. But this Difcourfe is not fo much concerned in what might occafion this failure in our Reformation, as in this that the Church of England hath expreffed its aim at a Reformation in this Point, which it could not reach, and expreffed a Godly Defire, that in future time the Primitive Discipline of the Church may be restored again.

CHA P. VH.

ND now if by the Reasons and Arguments in this Tract offered to confideration, a Proof hath been made according to what I undertook for in the beginning, that is to fay, that Difcipline had place in the Primitive Church by the Ordinance of Chrift and his Apofties; that Chrift left in his Church a Power and Authority for it, and the Apoftles gave in Charge for the Churches of their own Planting to be governed by it; (which things I take to have been herein proved beyond contradiction, by Scripture interpreted according to the Senfe of the firft Chrifti

ans,

ans, and fo agreeably to Hiftorical Truth, that even common Senfe juftifieth the interpretation) It being alfo fhewn what Difcipline the Apoftles Inftituted in the Church; as alfo upon what ground and to what purpose, by what the Church immediately after them did Practife; by what was practifed even throughout the whole Church; there being no part thereof but what kept up a Discipline and agreed in the neceffity of doing fo.) It likewife appearing to all that will fee, that which is plain to be feen in Church Writers of the feveral Ages, by what degrees the Decay, Abuses and Corruptions of Difcipline came on; that what now remaineth of it as vifibly deriveth it felf from the Apoftles, as the corrupt Chriftianity of this time can derive it felf from that which they planted pure from the Fountain. These things cannot but give conviction that the Reformation of the Church confifteth in restoring of the rimitive Difcipline to the ufe and effect it ought to have in the Church of hrift. And that if our first Reformers fell fhort of their Aimin this Point, it is a work remaining for the Church of the prefent Age to bring to pafs. And that an Obligation lieth on all Ranks of Chriftians to do their parts to wards it. As in the first place, on all that

have share in the Office of the Ministry especially, forafmuch as Difcipline is part of the Charge of their Miniftry. Upon whom therefore as there is a neceffity laid, that they take heed to the Miniftry, which they have received in the Lord, that they fulfill it, I might in reason well fuppofe there fhould be lefs need, and yet as the case stands there is the more for my pref fing the Obligation; in that though it cannot be thought that they do not fee, or that they do not understand it, neverthelefs it is apparent that they do little towards the discharge of it, but have fuffered even thofe Remains of Difcipline, which at the Reformation of our Church were with difficulty preferved, to lye neg lected in fuch a manner that now they are even come almoft to nothing. I take Grief therefore and even Shame to my self on this account, when I remind my Superi ors and Brethren, helpers as my felf in the Work of the Miniftry, of what was Nation of profeffed to be our Minds and Wills in this Bishops and particular, when demand was made in the Name of God and of his Church touching the fame, of what was by us undertaken and promised at our admiffion to this Miniftration in prefence of the Congregation of God's People, whom we took to bear witness how we purposed and were minded

Vid, Ordi

Priests.

to

to behave our felves in the Church of God; and of the things given us in charge touching the fame, when we received our Miniftry in the Church: namely, that every Bishop in this our Church at the time he was admitted to that Administration, hath declared himself as to this Point, and promised faithfully that by the help of God he would correct and punish the Disobedient and Criminous within his Diocefs, according to fuch Authority as he hath by God's Word and as to him fhall be committed by the Orainance of this Realm hath likewife received it in Charge, to be fo Merciful that he be not too remifs, to minifter Difcipline, not forgetting Mercy; muft alfo have fully known the intention of the Church as to what himself should do in this part of his Office, by that Prayer which it maketh to Almighty God, befeeching that he would give Grace to all Bishops, the Paftors of his Church that they may diligently preach. his Word and duly adminifter the Godly Dif cipline thereof; as alfo by what was asked of God by the Church on behalf of himfelf in particular, that he would grant his Servant Grace to use the Authority given him, not to Deftruction but to Salvation. That alfo every one admitted to the Order and Ministry of Priesthood within this Church hath undertaken and promised