what it was _anno_
1592. And the discipline retrieved to such a fond of freedom, that all
ecclesiastic courts may without restraint, or being accountable to any
exotic usurped power in the magistrate, assert all the authority, and
exercise the power, wherewith Christ hath intrusted them. Which power,
if duly and diligently improved, and put in execution, may, through the
blessing of God, contribute very much to the reducing of order, and the
redress of many disorders in this church. And now the causes of our
disunion and division, in times of defection, being in a great measure
removed, when erastian usurpations are abrogated, the churches intrinsic
power redintegrated, and the corruptions introduced by compliances, so
far abdicated and antiquated, that they are not, in the constitution of
the church, and do not continue to be the scandal and snare of the
times; we hope and expect a remedy may be found for our breaches and
divisions, that we thought incurable, and union and communion in the
Lord may be attained. We are no less obliged to mourn, when we observe
this house of the Lord so unlike the former, wanting many things the
former had, and pestered with many things the former wanted. They that
have seen our former reformation in its integrity, before the late
deformation, can hardly refrain from weeping at the sight of the sad
disproportion between this and the former. In the former, as the
constitution was calculate in the nearest conformity to the divine
pattern, so the builders had always a care to pull down what was to be
demolished, before they established what was to stand; and to purge away
the rubbish from the foundation, before they promoved the
superstructure. Accordingly, when prelacy was reintroduced at several
times, the first thing they did, when they recovered their power, was
always to exert it, in condemnation of that corruption, and of these
assemblies and meetings that promoved, abetted, favoured, or complied.
And when the erastian supremacy began to encroach upon the church's
liberties, and to bring the ministry into bondage, they did not think it
enough to wrestle against it, by personal witnessings; but, by the good
hand of God upon their endeavours, never ceased until it was condemned
by acts of assembly. They proceeded also with great earnestness and
vigilance, to purge the church of corrupt and scandalous ministers. But
now, after all the rubbish and filth, brought into the house of God, by
i