A treatise of episcopacy confuting by Scripture, reason, and the churches testimony that sort…

And thus one might then have seen the Bishops of all Churches in great reverence and favour among all sorts of men, and with all Magistrates. Who can worthily describe those innumerable heaps, and flocking multitudes, throughout all Cities and famous Assemblies, frequenting the places dedicated to prayer: Because of which circumstances, they not contented with the old and ancient buildings (which could not receive them) have throughout all Cities, builded them from the Foundation wide and ample Churches: These things thus prevailed in process of time, and daily increased far and nigh: so that no malice could intercept, no spiteful fiend bewitch, no wight with cunning at all hinder it, as long as the Divine and heavenly hand of God upheld and visited his People, whom as yet he worthily accepted. But after that our affairs through too much liberty, ease and security, degenerated from the Natural rule of piety; and after that one pursued another with open contumely and hatred; and when that we impugned our selves by no other than our selves, with the armour of spite, and sharp spears of opprobrious words, so that Bishops against Bishops, and People against People, raised sedition; last of all, when that cursed hypocrisy and dissimulation had swam even to the brim of malice; The heavy hand of Gods high judgment after his wonted manner (whilst as yet the Ecclesiastical Societies assembled themselves nevertheless) began softly by little and little to visit us; so that the persecution that was raised against us took first his Original, from the Brethren that were under Banner in the Camp. When as we were touched with no sense thereof, nor went about so pacific God, we heaped sin upon sin, thinking like careless Epicures, that God neither cared, nor would visit our sins; And they which seemed our Shepherds, Laying aside the rule of piety, practised contention and schism among themselves, and whilst they aggravated these things, that is, contentious, threatenings, mutual hatred and enmity, and every one proceeded in Ambition, much like Tyranny it self, then I say, then did the Lord make the daughter of Zion obscure, and overthrew from above the glory of Israel, &c.—c. 2. We saw with our eyes the Oratories thrown down:

And thus one might then have seen the Bishops of all Churches in great reverence and favour among all sorts of men, and with all Magistrates. Who can worthily describe those innumerable heaps, and flocking multitudes, throughout all Cities and famous Assemblies, frequenting the places dedicated to prayer: Because of which circumstances, they not contented with the old and ancient buildings (which could not receive them) have throughout all Cities, builded them from the Foundation wide and ample Churches: These things thus prevailed in process of time, and daily increased far and nigh: so that no malice could intercept, no spiteful fiend bewitch, no wight with cunning at all hinder it, as long as the Divine and heavenly hand of God upheld and visited his People, whom as yet he worthily accepted. But after that our affairs through too much liberty, ease and security, degenerated from the Natural rule of piety; and after that one pursued another with open contumely and hatred; and when that we impugned our selves by no other than our selves, with the armour of spite, and sharp spears of approbrious words, so that Bishops against Bishops, and People against People, raised sedition; last of all, when that cursed hypocrisie and dissimulation had swam even to the brim of malice; The heavy hand of Gods high judgment after his wonted manner (whilest as yet the Ecclesiastical Societies assembled themselves nevertheless) began softly by little and little to visit us; so that the persecution that was raised against us took first his Original, from the Brethren that were under Banner in the Camp. When as we were touched with no sense thereof, nor went about so pacific God, we heaped sin upon sin, thinking like careless Epicures, that God neither cared, nor would visit our sins; And they which seemed our Shepherds, Laying aside the rule of piety, practised contention and schism among themselves, and whilst they aggravated these things, that is, contentious, threatnings, mutual hatred and enmity, and every one proceeded in Ambition, much like Tyranny it self, then I say, then did the Lord make the daughter of Zion obscure, and overthrew from above the glory of Israel, &c.—c. 2. We saw with our eyes the Oratories thrown down: