The way of the churches of Christ in New-England, or, The way of churches…The vvay of the churches of Christ in New-England, or, The vvay of churches…

First, The efficient instruments of their first plantation, which were either Apostles, or Apostolical men, whether Philip, or Joseph of Arimathea, or Simon Zealots, as any of our Countrymen may read in Mr. Foxes book of Acts and Monuments, in the beginning of it, next after the story of the ten Primitive Persecutions, out of Gildas, Tertullian, Origen, Bede, Nicephorus. Which being so, we cannot but conceive the Churches in England were rightly gathered, and planted according to the Rule of the Gospel; and all the corruptions found in them since, have sprung from Popish Apostasy in succeeding ages, and from want of through and perfect purging out of that leaven in the late times of Reformation in the days of our Fathers. So that all the work now is, not to make ⟨p. 112⟩them Churches, which were none before, but to reduce and restore them to their Primitive Institution.

First, The efficient instruments of their first plantation, which were either Apostles, or Apostolicall men, whether Philip, or Joseph of Arimathea, or Simon Zelotes, as any of our Countrymen may reade in Mr. Foxes booke of Acts and Monuments, in the beginning of it, next after the story of the ten Primitive Persecutions, out of Gildas, Tertullian, Origen, Beda, Nicephorus. Which being so, wee cannot but conceive the Churches in England were rightly gathered, and planted according to the Rule of the Gospel; and all the corruptions found in them since, have sprung from Popish Apostasie in succeeding ages, and from want of through and perfect purging out of that leaven in the late times of Reformation in the dayes of our Fathers. So that all the worke now is, not to make ⟨p. 112⟩them Churches, which were none before, but to reduce and restore them to their Primitive Institution.

Secondly, The public Service-book acknowledgeth, That in the Primitive Church, there was a godly Discipline; That notorious sinners were put to open penance, and punished in this world; that both their souls might be saved in the day of the Lord, and others admonished by their example, might be the more afraid to offend. Which godly Discipline, is a thing (saith the Book) much to be desired, that it might be restored again. See the beginning of the Comminations against sinners. It is therefore acknowledged by the very state of the Churches of England, that the present estate of Church discipline, is not perfect, but defective, and swerving from the Primitive godly discipline.