C A P.3. ,`ftvelation of t ie Apecàlypfe. After that there is a Law made for Hofpitality in Benefices With Lnke- cure.- No doubt fu rely but this is the caufeof our Churchescalami- l0_ tie , for that Mi, iflers do not bring forth morefore of Bull-beefe to ricusLa- feed the poore.Withall. That Law,for tying theft they call Canons, to odieeâ. anak. their Sermons in their properpertns, might feem to come from a quick fight, were it nor, that perhaps it called them away from other places , where their labour was more neceffarily required. As for Matrimoniall confirmions, I let thempaffe. That Law touching the reforming of the abufes about Excommunication, is memorable. For thou feelt that it is defiled vilely withmany pollutions:I would thou couldeft as well fee, and provide for thofe things, that belong to the holy, and lawfull reformation of thofe abufes. But why doll thou at first fay, that nothing canbe innovated, or alteredherein,but With great change of the WholeEcclefiaflicall ZurifdiElion, andthemoll. ofthe laws of this Realm ? Yet nevertheleffe afterwards, thou wouldefthave it reduced to the ancient ufe, honour and dignity, Whichonce it had. Wilt thou effect (or) have a reformation, without anychange. Seeft thou not, that thou fpeakeff things that be repugnant each to other ? Thou wilt have nothing innovated, left the Laws be broken, andyet forfooth thou makeft Thewofrecalling the ancient comelinefhe; I pitie thy blindneffe. But by this caution, thou hafttaught ucplainly, what a kind of reformation weihould expect at thy hands ; namely, fuch as by which there thould bemade no amendment of things. A title therefore had been enough for this matter. Yet, that thou mighteft feem todo that which thou dolt not at all, nor rneaneft to do, thou fette&.t down acertain formof decrees. Let us fee how they fatisfie menfor that which they promife them. Firit thou ordaineft, That in greater crimes, thefentencebepro- nounced, either by the Arch-bif7op, Bithop, `Dean, erfrch-Deacon , ®/ Trebendarie inhis proper perfon. What ancient ufe is this, of pro- nouncing the fentence by thofe men, whofe very names (except that of the Bi4,oponly) were not once heardof in the Church, as long as the true comelineffe , anddignity of Excommunication indured ? And why is thereno place left for thePaflour of every Congregation, whofe office it was of old to pronounce the fentence ? Perhaps 1-,ee careth not at all what becommethof his fheep ; or it may be , that he is leffe fit to doe it , and is not induedwith judgement , and tvif- dom enough : Indeed this fear might perhaps have prevailed much in former time, but now it ought nor, feeing thou haft fuffiéiently freedus from it by the firft Chapter of thefe thy Cenßirtstionr. For X is 147
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