234 ) chofen others in their places, though that be not menti- onedexpretly in theEpiftle. 3. That the Church itfelf is not blamed, for of fuming aTower unto themfelves to depofe their Elders ; much lees that they had done it without theConfent, Advice, or Authorityofany Bifop, or other Church ; but only that they had dealt unjufily with thofe whom they had depofed, who in the Judgement ofthe Church of Rome, untowhich they had written for Advice, were efteemed not only innocent, but fuch as had laudably andprofita- bly difcharged their Office, whereon the whole blame is cart on thofe who had inftigated the Church unto this Proceedure. 4. There was not yet, nor in an hundred and fifty years after, the leaft mention or intimation, of any Schifine in a diffent from any humanely invented Rules or Canons, for Order, Government or Worfhip in any Church, or Religious Ceremonies impofed on the Pra- dife ofany in divine Service, that is on any Church, or any of theMembers ofit. There is not the leaft Au- maw ofany fuch things in primitive Antiquity, no In- ftance to be given of any man charged with Schifme for a Diffent from filch a Rule. Any fuch Rule, and any Ecclefiaftical Cenfure upon it, is apocriphal, not only un- to the. Scripture, but unto that which I call primitive Antiquity. The firft Attempt ofany thing in this kind, was in reference unto the time and day ofthe Obfervation ofFaster. This was the firft Inftance amongChriftians of an endeavour to impofe the Obfervation of humane or Church Conftitutions or groundlefs Traditions, on any Churches or Perfons in them. And whereas that which
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