Church-history of the government of bishops and their councils abbreviated including the chief part…

But I make no doubt, but though this earth be so far deserted by God, the Glorious Kingdom which we shall shortly see, with the new Heaven and Earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness, will fully confute all our present temptations to think hardly of God or the Redeemer, because of the present corruptions and dissentions of this lower world.

But I make no doubt, but though this earth be so far de•erted by God, the Glorious Kingdom which we shall shortly see, with the new Heaven and Earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness, will fully confute all our present temptations to think hardly of God or the Redeemer, because of the present corruptions and dissentions of this lower world.

§. 43. We may conjecture at former times by our own: We see now, that among the most Reformed Churches, too often the most worldly part are uppermost, and perhaps are the persecutors of the rest, and though they may be the smaller part, it's they that make the noise, are the noted part that carry the name, and that Histories write of. A few men got into places of power, seem to be all the Church, or Nation, by the prevalency of their actions, which few dare contradict: They may give Laws; They may have the power of Press and Pulpit, so that nothing shall be published but what they will; They may call themselves ⟨p. 19⟩the Church, and call all that obey them not Schismatics and Sectaries, and strangers may believe therefore, that it is but some few inconsiderable fellows that are against them, when yet the far greatest part may utterly dissent and abhor their pride. I have lived to see such an Assembly of Ministers, where three or four leading men were so prevalent as to form a Confession of Faith in the name of the whole party, which had that in it which particular members did disown. And when about a controverted Article, One man hath charged me deeply, for questioning the words of the Church, others that were at the forming of that Article, have laid it all on that same man, as by his impetuousness putting in that Article, the rest being loth to strive much against him, and so it was he himself that was the Church, whose authority he so much urged, at least the effectual signifying part. We cannot judge what is commonest by what is uppermost, or in greatest power. In divers Parishes now, where the Minister is conformable, perhaps ten parts of the people do dislike it; and sometimes you may see but three or four persons with him at the Common-prayers; And yet all know, that Dissenters are talked of as a few singular Fanatics. I compare not the Causes, but conclude, that so also for the Numbers, humble Godly persons might be very numerous, though only the actions of worldly Prelates do take up most of the History of the Church.