Gildas Salvianus: The Reformed Pastor

And thus when the Prelates had engaged the vulgar in their cause, and partly by themselves, and partly by them, had so far changed their cause, as that all serious Christians that feared sin, and were most diligent for salvation, were presently engaged among their adversaries, and they were involved with the rest, though they did nothing against the Government ⟨p. 155⟩or Ceremonies, and the most ignorant and impious became the friends and agents of the times, and everywhere made the most pious and sedulous Christians a common scorn, to the dishonour of God, and the hardening of the wicked, and discouraging of the weak, and filling men with prejudice against a godly life, and hindering many thousands from the way of salvation: then did God himself appear more evidently as interested in the quarrel, and rose against them, and shamed them that had let in scorn and shame upon his ways; And this, even this was the very thing that brought them down.

And thus when the Prelates had engaged the vulgar in their cause, and partly by themselves, and partly by them, had so far changed their cause, as that all serious Christians that feared sin, and were most diligent for salvation, were presently engaged among their adversaries, and they were involved with the rest, though they did nothing against the Government ⟨p. 155⟩or Ceremonies, and the most ignorant and impious became the friends and agents of the times, and everywhere made the most pious and sedulous Christians a common scorn, to the dishonour of God, and the hardening of the wicked, and discouraging of the weak, and filling men with prejudice against a godly life, and hindring many thousands from the way of salvation: then did God himself appear more evidently as interested in the quarrel, and rose against them, and shamed them that had let in scorn and shame upon his waies; And this, even this was the very thing that brought them down.

Besides this, there was scarce such a thing as Church-Government or Discipline known in the Land; but only this harassing of those that dissented from them. In all my life I never lived in the Parish where one person was publicly admonished or brought to public penitence or excommunicated, though there were never so many obstinate drunkards, whoremongers or vilest offenders. Only I have known now and then one for getting a bastard, that went to the Bishops Court and paid their sees; and I heard of two or three in all the Country (in all my life) that stood in a white sheet an hour in the Church: But the ancient Discipline of the Church was unknown. And indeed it was made by them impossible, when one man that lived at a distance from them, and knew not one of many hundreds of the Flock, did take upon him the sole Jurisdiction (and executed it not by himself, but by a lay-Chancellor) excluding the Pastors of the several Congregations, who were but to join with the Church-wardens and the Apparitors in presenting men, and bringing them