CA P. 2. 4kyelation ofthe Apocalyp%, 49 did difcipline begin to be loofened and corrupted , when the Mar- f-ugui- tyrs andconfeffmrs gave leave to thofe that had fallen, not onely not llhgefus, confuting with thofe Bifhops , towhofe charge thofe that fo fell did 1' belong, but even againft their vils ? how greatly this unreafonable perverting of the heavenly ordinance did grieve theheart of Cypri- an,we may fee out ofhisEpifles.Whence among many other caufes of that perfecution , that then lay fore upon theChurch, whichhec reckoneth up , at Tall he commeth down to this ; NoW What blows, What Won doWe not deferve, Whew ns not fo much as the CcnfeJfors, Who/houldgo before others With their example unto goodmanners,do not beep thedifcipline, Epift. Book4. Chap.4. And not many years after Eufebius fetnng forth the condition of the church, wherein it was, a little before that Dioclef :an beganhis perfecution ; They (faith heed thatfeemed to be our Paflours, rejeging the bond of piety , boyled With heat of mutuall contentionsamong thenmfelves ; heapingup there things Without meafure controverfies to quarrell withall, and threatnings, andenvyings,andmutuall vrudges,and hatred,afpiring unto, andpurfn- ing after Principalities, as if they had been kingdoms, With all their might, Book 8.Hill. chap.'. It mull needs be, that theedge of holy difcipline was marvelloufly blunted, which couldnothing prevaile to crop down filch noyfomweeds. But moll clearly of all other loth Ambrofe Phew this, who telleth us , that this divine ordinance was worn away long beforehis time : fpeakingofElders, at lalt he bring- ethin thefe words ; Whence (faith he) boh the Synagoggue, and after that the churchhadelders , Without Whole counfaile nothing Was done inthe Church ; The Which, by means ofWholenegligence it hathgrowu out offalbion ; I cannot tell , unleffeperhaps it bath been through the floathfulneffe,or rather thepride of the teachers, While dog alone Would feern to befume-body ; upon the firlt toTim.chap. S. He was not far off from this which wecall the Primitive Church : yet he fo fpeaketh,ae if this fo laving a cuftom had been abrogated fome ages before his day °s. The which things do clearly teach us,how this fill} love wasutterly abated in the heat of it, and at laut came to nothing. í 5'. 'Remember therefore fromWhence thouartfallen. Thus much for theirfin. The remedie confiftethofthree members: a. A dueconfider a- tion of theirfall.a.Repentance.3. A reneWing ofdifcipline.Whicl `'tG iugs are al required together to an amendment and that in the fame order in which they are here laid down.Becaufe we fal not at once,but ftep by ítep,we perceivenot almolt howdeep a ditch we arepinnged into, but let us once but call our cys upon that high topofthe hill w'hencé we
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