And as we thus our selves oppose Discipline by Parts, or cherish Church-corruption by parts, one party being for the Free admission of them, while Members, to the Sacraments, and the other as Freely Permitting them in Church-State, and other parts of Communion, while they exclude them from the Sacrament; so some have learned to tie these ends together, and by holding both, to set open the doors of Church and Chancel, and pluck up the hedge, and lay the Vine-yard common to the Wilderness. It hath somewhat amazed me to hear some that I ⟨p. 112⟩took for Reverend godly Divines, to reproach as a Sect, the Sacramentarians and Disciplinarians! and when I desired to know whom they meant, they tell me, they mean them that will not give the Sacrament to all the Parish, and them that will make distinction by their Discipline. I had thought the Tempter had obtained a great victory if he had but got one godly Pastor of a Church to neglect Discipline, as well as if he had got him to neglect Preaching: Much more if he had got him to approve of that neglect; but it seems he hath got some to scorn at the performers of the duty which they neglect. As the impure were wont to reproach the diligent by the name of Puritans: so do these reproach the faithful Pastors by the name of Disciplinarians. And I could wish they would remember what the ancient Reproaches were both Symptomatically and Effectively, and accordingly Judge impartially of themselves, and fear a participation of the Judgement that befell them. Sure I am, if it were well understood, how much of the Pastoral authority and work, consisteth in Church Guidance, it would be also discerned, that to be against Discipline is tantum non to be against the Ministry: and to be against the Ministry, is tantum non to be absolutely against the Church; and to be against the Church is near to being absolutely against Christ. Blame not the harshness of the inference, till you can avoid it, and free your selves from the charge of it before the Lord. Prelates would have some Discipline; and other parties would have some. Yea Papists themselves would have some, and plead only against others about the form and manner of it. But these ⟨p. 113⟩are so much worse then all, that they would have none.
And as we thus our selves oppose Discipline by Parts, or cherish Church-corruption by parts, one party being for the Free admission of them, while Members, to the Sacraments, and the other as Freely Permitting them in Church-State, and other parts of Communion, while they exclude them from the Sacrament; so some have learned to tye these ends together, and by holding both, to set open the doors of Church and Chancel, and pluck up the hedge, and lay the Vine-yard common to the Wilderness. It hath somewhat amazed me to hear some that I ⟨p. 112⟩took for Reverend godly Divines, to reproach as a Sect, the Sacramentarians and Disciplinarians! and when I desired to know whom they meant, they tell me, they mean them that will not give the Sacrament to all the Parish, and them that will make distinction by their Discipline. I had thought the Tempter had obtained a great victory if he had but got one godly Pastor of a Church to neglect Discipline, as well as if he had got him to neglect Preaching: Much more if he had got him to approve of that neglect; but it seems he hath got some to scorn at the performers of the duty which they neglect. As the impure were wont to reproach the diligent by the name of Puritans: so do these reproach the faithful Pastors by the name of Disciplinarians. And I could wish they would remember what the antient Reproaches were both Symptomatically and Effectively, and accordingly Judge impartially of themselves, and fear a participation of the Judgement that befell them. Sure I am, if it were well understood, how much of the Pastoral authority and work, consisteth in Church Guidance, it would be also discerned, that to be against Discipline is tantum non to be against the Ministery: and to be against the Ministery, is tantum non to be absolutely against the Church; and to be against the Church is neer to being absolutely against Christ. Blame not the harshness of the inference, till you can avoid it, and free your selves from the charge of it before the Lord. Prelates would have some Discipline; and other parties would have some. Yea Papists themselves would have some, and plead only against others about the form and manner of it. But these ⟨p. 113⟩are so much worse then all, that they would have none.
