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

It followeth therefore that no Bishops power extendeth to any other effect, but only to work on the Consciences of Volunteers, unless as the Magistrates or Parents may constrain them by penalties to submit to it. Suppose therefore a while that the Magistrates force were withdrawn from your discipline, and left it to itself, you would then know better by experience wherein its strength consisted: That man would then Rule the people most, who did most effectually convince their reason, and prevail with Conscience: and further nothing would be done, Are not our Bishops well aware of this—Do they not themselves confess how little their Government would signify above the Government of present Presbyters, unless they could give clear convincing Reasons to the people, which absent strangers are unlike to do? What do you think your peculiar power would signify in one year above a Presbyter's, if the Magistrate left all at liberty in their Church obedience to their Pastors, would not the present Pastors carry almost all, with the best and soberest of the flocks? Especially where Bishops make it their office to forbid the Pastors to do theirs, and to keep them from Preaching the word of life? Their holding fast the secular conjunct power, and using it so much doth show what they trust to! they say themselves, what would the Keys signify without the Sword? and the Pishops Government prevail, where none are punished for despising it if the Bishop excommunicate a faithful Preacher, neither he nor his flock will much regard it, but go on in the service of the Lord. And perhaps some will excommunicate the Bishop and be even with him. O! that the Magistrates would a few Years try what the Keys can do in England of themselves, and valeant quantum valere possunt. Not that I would wish him to leave off his own duty, to punish sin; but let it not be mixed with Church Offices, so, as that all that shall be imputed to the Bishops Keys, which is effected only by the Magistrates Sword. I deny not but the Magistrate may moderately drive men to hear Gods word, and to do ⟨p. 145⟩the immediate duties of their places? But not to profess that they are Christians when they are not, or that they consent to Church Communion, when they do not: Nor to take those Privileges which belong not to them: No man hath right to Church Communion, who had rather be excommunicated then repent of sin:

It followeth therefore that no Bishops power extendeth to any other effect, but only to work on the Consciences of Volunteers, unless as the Magistrates or Parents may constraine them by penalties to submit to it. Suppose therefore a while that the Magistrates force were withdrawn from your discipline, and left it to itself, you would then know better by experience wherein its strength consisted: That man would then Rule the people most, who did most effectually convince their reason, aud prevaile with Conscience: and further nothing would be done, Are not our Bishops well aware of this—Do they not themselves confess how little their Government would signifie above the Government of present Presbyters, unless they could give clear convincing Reasons to the people, which absent strangers are unlike to do? What do you think your peculiar power would signifie in one year above a Presbyrers, if the Magistrate left all at liberty in their Church obedience to their Pastors, would not the present Pastors carry almost all, with the best and soberest of the flocks? Especially where Bishops make it their office to forbid the Pastors to do theirs, and to keep them from Preaching the word of life? Their holding fast the secular conjunct power, and using it so much doth shew what they trust to! they say themselves, what would the Keys signifie without the Sword? and the Pishops Government prevail, where none are punished for despising it if the Bishop excommunicate a faithfull Preacher, neither he nor his flock will much regardit, but goe on in the service of the Lord. And perhaps some will excommunicate the Bishop and be even with him. O! that the Magistrates would a few Years try what the Keys can do in England of themselves, and valeant quantum valere possunt. Not that I would wish him to leave off his own duty, to punish sin; but let it not be mixed with Church Offices, so, as that all that shall be imputed to the Bishops Keys, which is effected only by the Magistrates Sword. I deny not but the Magistrate may moderately drive men to hear Gods word, and to do