THAT the Churches which are called Reformed, have attained unto but an Imperfect Reformation, is a Truth not to be denied: The defect has not been so much in Doctrine as in Worship and Discipline. Nevertheless, in this respect some Churches have gone beyond others. In Geneva, France, Holland, they have made an higher Progress then in Germany: of which the chief Reformers, such as Melanchthon, Martyr, Musculus, Zanchy and others were very sensible, bitterly complaining that many who were willing to cast off the yoke of Antichrist, ⟨p. 4⟩yet were not willing to Subject to the Yoke of Christ. Amongst all the Reformed Churches, some have given the Preference to the Bohemian-Brethren, who sprang from the Waldenses, and they from the true Apostolic Church, not corrupted with Popery. These did Luther in the year 1524 mislike, because of their stri•• Ecclesiastical Discipline. But twelve years after that, he saw cause to alter his Judgement, and write in Defence of those Holy Churches, which once he had written against, bewailing his own Error in that he had been so Lax in Admissions to the Lords Table, and wishing that the Evangelics in Germany, had began the Reformation with Discipline, and not with Doctrine only. For which change of his Judgement Popish Authors do unworthily upbraid him, since it was a change for the better. Lasitius (the Polish Historian) says, that if any where in the World the Primitive Apostolical Churches were to be seen, it was amongst the Ecclesiolae, the poor little Churches of the Bohemian Brethren. When Learned Bucer heard one of their Ministers (who was sent on purpose into Germany for that end) give an account of the Order of their Churches, he burst out into Tears, saying to the other Divines Present, This is Heaven upon Earth. Vergerius, (that famous Preacher who having been the Popes Legate to the Emperor, taking Calvins Institutions into his hands with a design to confute him, was Converted thereby) wrote to an ⟨p. 5⟩Eminent Person in those Churches, that be Prayed for nothing in this world so much as that he might Live and Dye a member amongst them. Now that wherein these Churches did chiefly Excel, was their Order Especially in their great strictness as to Admissions to the Lords Supper.
THAT the Churches which are called Reformed, have attained unto but an Imperfect Reformation, is a Truth not to be denyed: The defect has not been so much in Doctrine as in Worship and Discipline. Nevertheless, in this respect some Churches have gone beyond oth•rs. In Geneva, France, Holland, they have made an higher Progress then in Germany: of which the chief Reformers, such as Melancthon, Martyr, Musculus, Zanchy and others were very sensible, bitterly complaining that many who were willing to cast off the yoke of Antichrist, ⟨p. 4⟩yet were not willing to Subject to the Yoke of Christ. Amongst all the Reformed Churches, some have given the Preference to the Bohemian-Brethren, who sprang from the Waldenses, and they from the true Apostolick Church, not corrupted with Popery. These did Luther in the year 1524 mislike, because of their stri•• Ecclesiastical Discipline. But twelve years after that, he saw cause to alter his Judgement, and write in Defence of those Holy Churches, which once he had written against, bewayling his own Error in that he had been so Lax in Admissions to the Lords Table, and wishing that the Evangelics in Germany, had began the Reformation with Discipline, and not with Doctrine only. For which change of his Judgement Popish Authors do unworthily upbraid him, since it was a change for the better. Lasitius (the Polish Historian) sayes, that if any where in the World the Primitive Apostolical Churches were to be seen, it was amongst the Ecclesiolae, the poor little Churches of the Bohemian Brethren. When Learned Bucer heard one of their Ministers (who was sent on purpose into Germany for that end) give an account of the Order of their Churches, he burst out into Tears, saying to the other Divines Present, This is Heaven upon Earth. Vergerius, (that famous Preacher who having been the Popes Legat to the Emperor, taking Calvins Institutions into his hands with a design to confute him, was Converted thereby) wrote to an ⟨p. 5⟩Eminent Person in those Churches, that be Prayed for nothing in this world so much as that he might Live and Dye a member amongst them. Now that wherein these Churches did chiefly Excel, was their Order Especially in their great strictness as to Admissions to the Lords Supper.
