the fragrancy of Heaven. Then was the Sacred BIBLE fought out of the dusty corners where prophane Falfhood and Neglect had throwne it, the Schooles opened, Divine and Humane Learning rak't out of the embers of forgotten Tongues, the Princes and Cities trooping apace to the new erected Banner of Salvation; the Martyrs, with the unrefiftable might of Weaknesse, shaking the Powers of Darkneffe, and fcorning the fiery rage of the old red Dragon.

The pleasing pursuit of these thoughts hath ofttimes led mee into a serious question and debatement with my felfe, how it should come to paffe that England (having had this grace and honour from GoD to bee the first that should set up a Standard for the recovery of loft Truth, and blow the first Evangelick Trumpet to the Nations, holding up, as from a Hill, the new Lampe of faving light to all Christendome) fhould now be last, and most unfettl'd in the enjoyment of that Peace, whereof the taught the way to others; although indeed our Wicklef's preaching, at which all the fucceding Reformers more effectually lighted their Tapers, was to his Countrey-men but a short blaze foone dampt and sftifl'd by the Pope, and Prelates for fixe or seven Kings Reignes; yet me thinkes the Precedencie which GOD gave this Iland, to be the first Restorer of buried Truth, should have beene followed with more happy fucceffe, and fooner attain'd Perfection; in which, as yet we are amongst the last: for, albeit in purity of Doctrine we agree with our Brethren; yet in Difcipline, which is the execution and applying of Doctrine home, and laying the falve to the very Orifice of the wound; yea tenting and searching to the Core, without which Pulpit Preaching is but fhooting at Rovers; in this we are no better then a Schifme, from all the Reformation, and a fore scandall to them; for while wee

hold Ordination to belong onely to Bishops, as our Prelates doe, wee muft of neceffity hold also their Minifters to be no Minifters, and fhortly after their Church to be no Church. Not to fpeake of those fenceleffe Ceremonies which wee onely retaine, as a dangerous earnest of sliding back to Rome, and serving meerely, either as a mift to cover nakedneffe where true grace is extinguifht; or as an Enterlude to fet out the pompe of Prelatifme. Certainly it would be worth the while therefore and the paines, to enquire more particularly, what, and how many the cheife caufes have been, that have still hindred our Uniforme Confent to the rest of the Churches abroad, (at this time efpecially) when the Kingdome is in a good propenfity thereto; and all Men in Prayers, in Hopes, or in Difputes, either for or against it.

Yet will I not infift on that which may feeme to be the cause on GODS part; as his judgement on our finnes, the tryall of his owne, the unmasking of Hypocrites; nor fhall I ftay to speake of the continuall eagernes and extreame diligence of the Pope and Papifts to ftop the furtherance of Reformation, which know they have no hold or hope of England their loft Darling, longer then the goverment of Bishops bolsters them out; and therefore plot all they can to uphold them, as may bee feene by the Booke of Santa Clara the Popish Preift in defence of Bishops, which came out piping hot much about the time that one of our own Prelats out of an ominous feare had writ on the fame Argument; as if they had joyn'd their forces like good Confederates to fupport one falling Babel.

But I fhall cheifly indeavour to declare those Causes that hinder the forwarding of true Difcipline, which are among our felves. Orderly proceeding will divide our inquirie into our Fore-Fathers dayes, and into our Times. HENRY the 8. was the first that

rent this Kingdome from the Popes Subjection totally; but his Quarrell being more about Supremacie, then other faultineffe in Religion that he regarded, it is no marvell if hee ftuck where he did. The next default was in the Bishops, who though they had renounc't the Pope, they ftill hugg'd the Popedome, and shar'd the Authority among themselves, by their fixe bloody Articles perfecuting the Proteftants no flacker then the Pope would have done. And doutles, when ever the Pope fhall fall, if his ruine bee not like the fudden down-come of a Towre, the Bishops, when they fee him tottering, will leave him, and fall to fcrambling, catch who may, hee a Patriarch-dome, and another what comes next hand as the French Cardinall of late, and the See of Canterbury hath plainly affected.

In Edward the 6. Dayes, why a compleate Reform was not effected, to any confiderate man may appeare. First, he no fooner entred into his Kingdome, but into a Warre with Scotland; from whence the Protector returning with Victory had but newly put his hand to repeale the 6. Articles, and throw the Images out of Churches, but Rebellions on all fides stir'd up by obdurate Papists, and other Tumults with a plaine Warre in Norfolke, holding tack against two of the Kings Generals, made them of force content themfelves with what they had already done. Hereupon follow'd ambitious Contentions among the Peeres, which ceas'd not but with the Protectors death, who was the most zealous in this point: and then Northumberland was hee that could doe most in England, who little minding Religion, (as his Apoftacie well fhew'd at his death, bent all his wit how to bring the Right of the Crowne into his owne Line. And for the Bishops, they were fo far from any fuch worthy Attempts, as that they fuffer'd themfelvs to be the commo stales to countenance with their prof

tituted Gravities every Politick Fetch that was then on foot, as oft as the Potent Statists pleas'd to employ them. Never do we read that they made use of their Authority and high Place of acceffe, to bring the jarring Nobility to Chriftian peace, or to withstand their disloyall Projects; but if a Toleration for Mafe were to be beg'd of the King for his Sifter MARY, left CHARLES the Fifth fhould be angry; who but the grave Prelates Cranmer and Ridley muft be sent to extort it from the young King? But out of the mouth of that godly and Royall Childe, Chrift himselfe return'd fuch an awfull repulfe to those halting and time-ferving Prelates, that after much bold importunity, they went their way not without shame and teares.

Nor was this the first time that they discover'd to bee followers of this World; for when the Protectors Brother, Lord Sudley, the Admirall through private malice and mal-engine was to lose his life, no man could bee found fitter then Bishop Latimer (like another Doctor Shaw) to divulge in his Sermon the forged Accufations laid to his charge, thereby to defame him with the People, who elfe was thought would take ill the innocent mans death, unlesse the Reverend Bishop could warrant them there was no foule play. What could be more impious then to debarre the Children of the King from their right to the Crowne? To comply with the ambitious Ufurpation of a Traytor; and to make void the laft Will of HENRY 8. to which the Breakers had fworne observance? Yet Bishop Cranmer, one of the Executors, and the other Bishops none refusing, (left they should refift the Duke of Northumberland) could find in their Consciences to set their hands to the difinabling and defeating not onely of Princesse MARY the Papist, but of ELIZABETH the Pro

teftant, and (by the Bishops judgement) the Lawfull Iffue of King HENRY.

Who then can thinke, (though these Prelates had fought a further Reformation) that the least wry face of a Politician would not have hush't them. But it will be faid, Thefe men were Martyrs: What then? Though every true Christian will be a Martyr when he is called to it; not presently does it follow that every one fuffering for Religion, is without exception. Saint Paul writes, that A man may give his Body to be burnt, (meaning for Religion) and yet not have Charitie: He is not therfore above all poffibility of erring, because hee burnes for fome Points of Truth.

Witnes the Arians and Pelagians which were flaine by the Heathen for Chrifts fake; yet we take both these for no true friends of Chrift. If the Martyrs (faith Cyprian in his 30. Epiftle) decree one thing, and the Gospel another, either the Martyrs must lose their Crowne by not observing the Gofpel for which they are Martyrs; or the Majeftie of the Gospel must be broken and lie flat, if it can be overtopt by the novelty of any other Decree.

And heerewithall I invoke the Immortall DEITIE Reveler and Judge of Secrets, That wherever I have in this BOOKE plainely and roundly (though worthily and truly) laid open the faults and blemishes of Fathers, Martyrs, or Chriftian Emperors; or have otherwise inveighed against Error and Superftition with vehement Expreffions: I have done it, neither out of malice, nor lift to speak evill, nor any vaineglory; but of meere neceffity, to vindicate the spotleffe Truth from an ignominious bondage, whose native worth is now become of fuch a low esteeme, that shee is like to finde small credit with us for what she can fay, unleffe fhee can bring a Ticket from