183) and calling, by petition, or otherwife, no though the King. commanded us. BifhopHall in his Mod Offerdothconfefsthe faultinefs, and delires refor- mation: and in his excellent Peace-maker, would take up even with a pre- fìderee durante vita, as fufficient to reconcile us. Dr. Hammond himfelf oft complaineth of the lapfe of difcipline, and the clergies and peoples vices thereupon. The Liturgywifheth the godly Difcipline refìored,but doth it not as if in our cafe it could not bedone. Abundanceof their Writers lament the fcandals of clergy and people which haveabounded, of which I {hall fay fomewhatmore anon. 2. And this is yet plainlierconfeffed by the Aeival omijon of difcipline: We-need 'not to difpute whether that can or be ever like to be done, by our Prelacy, which is no where done, and neuer was done, no not by any one man of them, not excepting the very bell ; fo that if they had not come neer the Erallian opinion in their hearts, and thought this ufe of the Keyes to conlift but in bare Teaching, or the tell to be of rogreat need, it had not been poflible that they fhould have quieted their Confciences Or at leali, if they did not do it, by. Paying, I cannot help it ; It is not long of me : As Bifhop Goodman layeth it on the King in the cafe of Chancel- lours, and moll lay it on the Church- Wardens and Minilfers forprefent- ing- no more : But all mull confefs that little is done betides the troubling of Nonconformifts. Isis not one of a thoufand in a Diocefîe, I am cor.- #ìdent, that ever is brought under the excercife of Church difcipline that ought to be; Noroneofmany thoufand that fhould be fo according to theancient Canons of the Churches. if I fhould giveno other inftance, than the ordinarie neglec4 ofall Gods publick worship (Preaching, Pray- er and Sacraments) in publick, Churchesor any .other Religious Aflcen- blies, I do not think but ten thoufand pé"rfons in this Dioceffe , and twenty thoufand, if not fourty, in London Dioceffe are guilty, that were never queftion_d by the Church. I may therefore argue thus: That which never was done by any one Bifhop in England, being the confeffed work of their office is naturally or Morally Irnpollìble to be done (or if it have a poflibility it is as bad as none, when it never was oncereduced into ad) But the true exercife of Church difcipline on all or the hundredth or many hundredth per fon that it is due to; was neverdone by one Bifhop in England, that can by any credible Rigor), be proved'( free the deformation or reformation) Ergo. The ftrength of the Major is plain. r. From the Bifhops own mouths who ate to praise themfelves as the Wifeft, Learnedlf and belt of the Clergie, and therefore titter to be muffed with the Governmr_nt of the Church than all or any of the Presbyters ( though but under them) And theywould take it heynouily if we queftion their wifdorr e, eontçie ce or homily, and if they are all or matt fo good, fuse it is long of the irate ..
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