r9o Preachers and Magiftratesi For why fhould they put the people to fo great charge and trouble , efpecially when they love the Prelates fo little as to keep them up to wield a Leaden Sword, and to brandifh á breetum fulmen, and to make a noire to no more purpofe ; yea to rob the Magillrate of the honour of his proper work, and to make the de- luded people believe that thofe things are done by a brutunrfulmen which really are done by the Civil power. q.. This objeIion bitterly reproacheth all the ancient Churches and Bithops, andall General and provincical Councils, and all the Cannons and ancient , difcipline of the Churches ; As if they had troubled the world tono pupofe and all their difcipline had been vain. g. The objeftion is notorioully confuted, in that the Difcipline was more powerful and had better effeét, before Conffsntiur time than af- terwards, and was much more &idly exercifed againfi fin. And that which fo long did more without the Sword , than afterwardby it, Both not receive its efficacyfrom the Sword. 6. Anaturarei there is as much of Divine Authority, as much of the power ofhis Precepts Prohibitions, Promife.r, and threatnings, as much of Heavenly inducement, as much ofthe terrors ofHell, as much of in- ternal goodnefsof holynefs, and evil of fins, as much of Soul intereft in what the Minifier propoundeth for mens cony idiot' as there is, whenit is backt with. the Magifirates Sword. And if all there have no force, Chriflianity mull be adream, and able to do no good in the, world; which better befeemeth Julïan, Celfue or Po,pbyry, Symmaehxs; orEunapiets, to fay, than a Bilhop. . 7. By this objeáion the Prelatifis openly confefs that their Churches conhft of men fo carnal as are not moved by Divine authority with- out the Sword :. And confequently what Parlors they have been to theChurches, and howthey have governed them; and what theyallow us to expeét from their difcipline for the time to come. 8. By this Objedion they condemn themfelves and juffifìe the Nonconformifts: Fer why thouldwe Swear that w,; will never endea- vour any alteration of fa brutifb'an Office, as if the King and Par- liament could not take down fuel) an ufelefs thing ? And 'why thould fo many hundred Minilters be .forbidden to Preach Chrifi , for not affenting, confenting and Swearing to fuck a vaine and brachia.. power ? 9. By this they give up their caufe to the Presbyterians, and Inde-, pendents; Confeflìn_g that their difcipline is uneffedual ; when as we that plead for another frame, defire not the Magiltrates Sword' to in- terpofè, and defire to ufe. difcipline on none but Volunteers. And ei- ther the difcipline which we defire hathfame efficacy, or none. Ifnone, what need they fear it, or hinder it, or thence fo many hundred Mi. Hitters, and write and firive, and all tokeep men from.ufing fuch a brutum '_fulmen which can do no _ harne. .Butif they confefs that,our difcipline bath.
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