acting Tyrannically, be the Inftruments of bringing the Power of the Civil Magiftrate upon those they should feek to reform by meek and gentle methods. I fhall therefore fay here, that no Blame can justly lie upon the Clergy of the Church of England for what this Author infinuates to be a neglect and Remifnefs in the greateft part of that Body, that is to fay, their not affifting and joyning with the new formed Societies for Reformation in this Kingdom by putting the Laws of the Realm in Execution against Publick Wickednefs. 'Tis without all doubt that theClergy are concerned at all times to feek the Reformation of Chriftian Profeffors, and especially in fuch an Age as this, in which Wickedness fo much aboundeth: These have Reason to take to Heart the no greater Succefs of their Endeavours to give a ftop thereto, and upon this Account are concern'd to do all that's poffible in their Office and Ministry for that purpose. Infomuch, as though not bound to engage in a Work that is Foreign to their Ministry, and which may give Offence and occafion for the Ministry to be blamed,and evil fpoken of, they fhall be obliged however, to take notice of what this Author has publickly faid, and what themfelves know to be too true, that the Difcipline of the

Church

A Church is loft, which would have proved a Bank against that Flood of Wickedness which has broken in upon us. And as there is reafon to think that the decay and loss of the - Church's Difcipline hath given a great inlet to that Wickednefs which hath overflowed all parts of the Church, 'tis to be hoped we thall not always tilink it fufficient to lament the lofs of the Church's Difcipline once a Year in the Office for Afhwednesday, but shall in good earnest endeavour to restore the Ancient Discipline, and retrieve the Ecclefiaftical Power to its Primitive Defign. The Obligation upon all Chriftians to this feems to me fo plain, that I cannot fee how Men of Confcience can fatisfy themselves with complaining of the Iniquity of the Age and wishing for Reformation, without having recourse to this Remedy. Upon the Clergy especially I look the Obligation is fo great to restore this neceffary part of their Ministry to fome effect, that nothing can be more to them that make Confcience of fulfilling their Miniftry in all things.

I fuppofe the vulgar Prejudice against Excommunication, which is the Penalty that Difcipline endeth in, to them that fubmit not, will not be thought an Objection of any weight to hinder the Reftoration of Discipline; that is to fay, according

the falfe and weak Notion cording to that many have thereof, that Excommuni çation is a Cenfure that giveth Men to the Devil. It hath been indeed faid before, that it is all one with the Delivering to Satan spoken of by S. Paul, and this in a Spiritual fee, as he that is Caft our of the Church falleth under the Power of Satan; but the intention of the Church in putting thus in danger, is to warn Men to flee from the wrath to come, to make hafte to get clear from the Power of Satan, This appeareth in the Practice of the Primitive Church, even towards them that were abfolutely fhut out of it; for those whofe Sins were denied the hope of readmiffion to Reconcilement with the Church, being refused Penance, were yet fent to God with hope of Mercy; fo that not on ly fuch as were brought to Penance and allowed the fame, were recovered out of the Snare of the Devil and faved by the Difcipline and Cenfure of the Church; but even that Key which did wholly fhut out of the Church, did many times let ino Heaven, and was the means of Salva tion to those whom with knowlege it excluded from all hopes of Reconcilement with the Church, to make them feek with the more folicitude and earneftnefs, Recociliation with God.

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There is one Thing, which I foresee may be faid, and framed into fomewhat of an Argument against what I have been urging concerning a neceffity of Reftoring the Church's Difcipline, which therefore I muft fay fomething to. It is this, That Difcipline, is not of the fubftance of Chritianity but only Minifterial thereunto,that therefore as 'tis in the Power of the Church to alter the way of Exercifing it, and vary the Circumftances thereof as thall be expedient, fo ir, is in its Power to abate the ftrictness of Difcipline, and even lay afide the use of it, if in the Judgment of the Church, the Intreft of Christianity fhall fo require. That this was done by J the Frimitive Church, when in feveral Cafes the ftrictnefs of Difcipline was reI mitted, and the Communion of the Church granted to Multitudes together without any Penance, to quiet Faction in the Church, or put an end to Schifm, and fometimes only for fake of the great number of Offenders, who, 'twas fuppofed would not fubmit to the Rules of Dif cipline. That therefore the prefent Church may, in fo broken and divided a State thereof as now it is in, remit the ftriness of Difcipline for the fake of Unity, wherein it must be owned the Intreft of Chriftian Religion greatly confifteth; yea, may

without

without blame in the prefent diforderly State of Things, when the greater part of Christian Profeffors are fo Lewd and Diffolute as to defpife the Power of the Church and flight its Ministry, even be content to lay afide that Difcipline which is not practicable to be kept up; which being flighted and defpifed by the greater part of Chriftian Profeffors, there is no likelihood any great good can come of it to the Chriftian Religion. To which Ianfwer, That indeed the Method of Difcipline has not been always the fame in the Church, and that it is in the Power of the Church to make Alterations therein, taking that Order concerning it, which may be thought to make it most serviceable to Christianity: Nevertheless, it cannot be in the Power of the Church to lay the Dif cipline of Christ afide, nor yet to let it fall. The Power of Ordering its Ministry fo as to make it moft ferviceable and effectual to the purposes of its Institution, is a Right that cannot but belong to the Church, and is of Duty employed by it, is the fulfilling of its Ministry: But to recede from, or lay afide any part of its Miniftry cannot poffibly be in the Church's Power, because the Church is fubject to Christ, and bound always to have regard to his Inftitutions; is unfaithful to its

Trust,