power of working miracles, which was in the Apostle, upon which fome think he reflecteth in fome paffages of those Epistles) requifite it was then, the Congregation fhould be fatisfied of the course of those proceedings which must come into execution and effect by their voluntary fubmiffion to the will of God and the office of his Minifters: And as the matter is now, that things of this nature proceed not upon mens private confciences and judgements in particulars, but upon generall rules of common right, requifite it is that the Cómon-wealth have fatisfaction of thofe laws according to which the Church now muft proceed in their cenfures, it being acknowledged that they cannot proceed with effect but by virtue of thofe laws that are put in force by the fecular arm: But as it is now no longer time to leave matters to the Confcience of mens

places,

places which may be regulated by laws, which experience maketh commendable; fo is it no longer time to expect at the peoples hands voluntary fubmiffion to the difcipline of the Church, further then it is inabled by laws of the kingdome to exercife it. And therefore it is much to be wifhed that the laws by which the Minifters of the Church are inabled, directed, conftrained to exercise this prime part of their office, may prove fo fufficient, and that the power of the keyes given it by our Lord in the Gospel may be fo ftrengthened by the fecular arm, and rules put in force by it, that it may be able to reduce all hainous and notorious offenfes under the discipline of Penance, and to cut them off from the Church that refuse it. Is it to be believed, that our Lords intent was, in fettling fuch a power as this is; that it fhould take hold of finnes of incontinence or the like,

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like, letting all others, of as deep a ftain, and as well known, efcape uncenfured? Or could any man devise a more puiffant means to discountenance malefactours in a Chriftian Common-wealth, then that which our Lord hath appointed, by making them know, that when they have fatisfied the laws of the kingdome, with loffe of goods or fame, or have efcaped with life by the gentleneffe of them, the fact being proved, nevertheleffe they can not communicate with the people of God, till the Church be fatisfied of their correction and amendment? Nay, fhall we imagine that the inftitution of our Lord Chrift is fatisfied and in force in a Christian Common-wealth, fo long as the cafe of particular offenfes, upon occafion whereof it is settled by him in the Gofpel, is fcarce underftood among us, because it is fo farre from common practice by the laws

of

of the kingdome whereas it might eafily appear what an excellent and charitable course our Saviour hath chalked out to us, if a good Christian heart, defirous rather of his brothers amendment then of his own fatiffaction, and able to make an appearance of fuch an offenfe, as our Lord intended, by witneffes, the Church, inabled by rules of law, established by the fecular arm, fhould call the perfon offending to the acknowledgement of wrong on his fide, cutting him off in cafe he refused amendment. Thus much for certain, if the zeal of well-affected Chriftians to wards the state of this Church did not mistake the true mark, the difcipline of Penance, muft needs be thought one of the first points to be reformed in it. And then the rest of that fatisfaction which the people can demand of the Church, will confift in not releafing the correction inAlicted

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flicted untill there be reasonable appearance of the effect wrought by it. For if in S. Cyprians difcipline, the people refted fo unfatisfied of fome whom his gentleneffe had reconciled, that they were hardly perfwaded to admitte them to communicate, as he writeth Epift. 55. juft cause have good Chriftians to be fcandalized, when they see them admitted to communicate of whose offenses they are fure, but have no caufe to be fure of their amendment.

CHAP.