lo The `Preface. he hathpurchajd with hisown `Blood, with fundry other things of the like kind, all under an abiding fenfe, of the near approach of that great Account which they mutt; give of the whole Truft and Charge committed unto them, before the Judgment feat ofChritt ; for the mot} part peculiarly expofed unto all manner of Dan- gers, Troubles, and Perfecutions, without the leaf{ en- couragement from Wealth, Power, or Honour. It is no wonder therefore ifmany in the Primitivetimes,were willing gradually to extricate themfelves out of this un- eaTe condition, and to embrace all occafions and oppor- tunities of introducing infenfibly another Rule and Or- der into the Churches, that might tend more unto the exaltation of their ownPower, Authority, and Digni- ty, and free them in Tome meafure, from the weight of that important charge, and continual care with labour, which a diligent and ftri&. Adherence unto the ,irfi in- srfitution ofChurches, and Rules given for their Orderand Government, in the Scripture, would have obliged them unto. And this was done accordingly ; until in the fourth and fifth Centuries and fo onward, the Bifhops under various Titles, began by their Arbitrary `-?isles and Canons, to difpofe of the Flock of Chrift, to part and divide them among themfelves, without their own knowledgeor confent,as ifthey had conquered them by the fcvord. This Bifbop [hall have fuch a {hare and num- ber ofthem under his Power, and that other fo many ; fb far {hall the jurisdiClion of one extend, and fo far that of another, was the fubje& of many of their De- crees and Laws, for the Rule of the Church. But yet neither did they long keep within thole Bounds and Li- mits which their more model{ Ambition had at Mt pre- kribed unto them ; but took occafion from thefe Be- ginnings
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=