in difficult Circumftances, to direct our Miniftry to the best Service and Effect : But we ought not to fuffer worldly Policy e to raise a Difpute, Whether our Ministry fhould be employed or not, to the full purpose intended by Chrift. A neceffity is laid on us to fulfil our Ministry and leave the Iflue and Effect to God, who to fhew that his work dependeth not on man, hath given it a fuccefs in former time be. yond what Human Wisdom could forefee; and is able still to give fuccefs and make his Work to profper in the hands of his Minifters, eyen to make that Miniftry of his Church powerful, which the Infolent Wickednef, of this Time defpiseth as weak and contemptible.

CHAP.

CHAP. IX.

T must not be expected from me to say

IT

now in the Clofe of this Difcourfe, what Things are neceffsary to retrieve Discipline to its Primitive State and Ufe in the Church. This our Governours are to confult and account for. The Thing 1 shall take upon me to fay, is, That an Attempt of this nature ought to be made. Not but that it must be faid alfo for the Honour of the first Reformers of our Church, and of the Reformation in it; That as our Reformation hath been of the greatest Service to Chriftianity, in removing thofe grofs and vile Abuses that were crept into the Difcipline of the Church in times of Popery (which not only had perverted it from the ufe it ought to have in the Church of Chrift, but fo changed it, that inftead of being a means to reform, it became the occafion of a farther Corruption in the Lives and Manners of Chriftians): So our Church cometh confide rably nearer to the Apoftolical Institution in her Difcipline than most others; as

hay

having retained the ufe of Excommunication, and fome ufe alfo of Penance, having a Canon that Notorious Offenders be not admitted to the Communion, and a particular Order to Farochial Ministers to refuse fuch. Nevertheless the Church has owned that there is a great Defect in her Discipline, in that she could not restore Publick Penance, and lamenteth that fhe could not bring about her Aim in this for a full Reformation. This we may fuppofe would not have been mentioned, but with hope that in future time there would be an Endeavour and might be an Opportunity for that to be compaffed (which then could not be brought to pafs) for the Interest of Religion and the Church of God. 'Tis not however for private Perfons to make any attempt towards fo good a Purpose, any farther than by their Prayers, that God would put it into the Hearts of those to whom he has committed the Care and Government of his Church, to confider of means by which the Difcipline of Chrift may be reftored in his Church, and the Authority and Power of the Church retrieved for the exercise of it to the ends of Religion and Reformation: And that God would please to infpire them with Godly Zeal and Chri

ftian

stian Courage to ufe all proper and just Endeavours in fo good a work.

What I may speak more freely in, as\ hope, without Offence on the part of others, fo without fear of giving it, or having it taken on my own, is this. That there is a very great and unexcufable fault, that the Discipline which the prefent Church of England hath Received and Established by its Rules and Canons, and Charged upon those that act in its Miniftry, is not executed to its due Purpose and End in the Church of God. Whether this be chargeable on those that act in the Ministry, or on them that perhaps not difown, but flight and defpife the Power of the Ministry, and will not be fubject to wholfom Discipline, or on both; Ifay, notwithstanding that it would be hard to fix the blame of this folely on the Ministry, both Ministers and People being in fault, both Corrupted together, and alike; nevertheless it more efpecially concerneth all who have any part in the Ministry of this Church, to fee the Difcipline of the Church be brought to fome better effect than it is at prefent, and that those Abufes, Corruptions, and Defects that are but too visible in the Ministration thereof, (and are the occafion that for the most part it

is

is fet afide; or where used, not to the purpose it should be in the Church of Christ, but in a manner that giveth Offence to good Christians, and Advantage to those that are otherwise to Reproach and Contemn the Discipline it felf, together with them that act therein) be removed, and such Remedy found, fuch Courfe taken that the Discipline of the Church may be Executed with Authority and become effectual to Christian Purposes. I will take the liberty therefore here to fay, that it is a fault of the Clergy in general, that there is not that done which is in our Power to do, not indeed that which by the Eftablished Rules of our Church we are obliged to do for the making the Discipline thereof of fome effect, to put a Restraint on the Looseness and great Corruption of the Age. It is our fault that we do not make ufe of that Authority and Power which we have, and may be fupported in from the Laws of the Land as well as of the Church; that I mean, of debarring and keeping back Notorious Evil Livers from the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper; and fuch as are perceived to live in Malice and the Order Hatred, which the Rubrick impowers us for amito do, and ftrictly enjoyns to be done. of the And the Reverend Bishops of our Church Lord's Sup

to

Rubrick in

niftration

per.