Five disputations of church-government and worship

§. 32. 4. The truth is, it was the Magistrate and not Episcopacy that kept that Unity and Peace among us which we had; and that kept under Heresies so much as they were kept under. Take not therefore the Magistrates honour to your selves. Who would have attended your Courts, or submitted to your censures, had it not been for fear of the Secular power? I think but few. You know the Heretics themselves obeyed you not for Conscience sake. Nor would they have regarded your Excommunication, if the Magistrate would have let them alone. If it was the spiritual sword in your hands that kept out Heresies, why did you not keep them out since, as well as then? You have the same power from Christ now as ever you had. And I hope the fears of persecution will not hinder you from your duty: especially when you can name so few that have suffered for exercising Church-discipline by Episcopal power! at least this was no hinderance a few years ago. For my part, I heartily wish you free from persecution, if you are not. But again I tell you, that which I suppose you know; that as free a Toleration of Prelacy in England as there is of Presbytery, were the likelyest way to bring you into perpetual contempt. For we cannot but ⟨p. 328⟩know, that besides a few Civil engaged Gentlemen, Ministers, and others, your main body would consist of those that for their notorious impiety, scandal or ignorance, are thought unmeet for Church-communion by others: and that when you came to exercise Discipline on them, they would hate you and fly from you as much as ever they did from Puritans: and if you did indulge them, and not reform them or cast them out, your Church would be the Contempt of the sober part of the world▪ and your own sober members would quickly relinquish it for shame. For [the Church of England] if you would needs be so called, would be taken for the sink of all the other Churches in England. This is a clear and certain truth that is easily discerned, without a Prophetic spirit: and the dishonour of all this would reflect upon your Prelacy.

§. 32. 4. The truth is, it was the Magistrate and not Episcopacy that kept that Unity and Peace among us which we had; and that kept under Heresies so much as they were kept under. Take not therefore the Magistrates honour to your selves. Who would have attended your Courts, or submitted to your censures, had it not been for fear of the Secular power? I think but few. You know the Hereticks themselves obeyed you not for Conscience sake. Nor would they have regarded your Excommunication, if the Magistrate would have let them alone. If it was the spiritual sword in your hands that kept out Heresies, why did you not keep them out since, as well as then? You have the same power from Christ now as ever you had. And I hope the fears of persecution will not hinder you from your duty: especially when you can name so few that have suffered for exercising Church-discipline by Episcopal power! at least this was no hinderance a few years ago. For my part, I heartily wish you free from persecution, if you are not. But again I tell you, that which I suppose you know; that as free a Toleration of Prelacy in England as there is of Presbyterie, were the likelyest way to bring you into perpetual contempt. For we cannot but