The interest of England in the matter of religion the first and second parts : unfolded in the solution of three questions / written by John Corbet.

Section L.

The most renowned Polititian ob∣serves,

that those Kingdoms, Repub∣licks, and sects of Religions subsist longest, that are often renewed or brought back to their first beginnings. For the beginnings of all these must needs contain some goodness in them, by means whereof they rise to their first reputation and increase. Now in process of time that goodness will be overgrown by corruption; and unless something happen to reduce it to the just mark, those Societies must needs be destroyed. And touching Religi∣ons, he proves these Reformations ne∣cessary by the example of the Roman Religion, saying,—If it had not been reduced again to its principles by St. Francis, and St. Dominick, it would have been quite defaced. For these by their poverty, and imitation of Christs life, made a new impression thereof in mens minds, which was quite blotted out thence, and their new rules were so powerful, and are now the cause that the dishonesty of the Prelates and Heads of Religion do not ruine it, partly by their living in po∣verty,

and partly by the credit they have in confessing the people and preaching to them.—Indeed this Author doth not hit the mark, (and no marvel) touching the true principles of Christi∣anity, and right imitation of Christ, the reviving whereof he ascribes to those two popish Saints; but his reason of Religion in general is solid and excel∣lent, and his instances in particular are right and sound, being applyed (as they are) to the upholding of the po∣pish Religion. As for Religion truly Christian, the way to preserve it in its power and glory, is frequently to re∣duce it to its first beginnings; for then was its goodness most eminent. The primitive spirit of the Christian Church was a spirit of power and glory, and the primitive order was most spiritual and powerful. Let Christs holy Instituti∣ons, let Apostolical precept and pra∣ctice be the pattern of our Reformati∣on. What sound Protestant will deny the holy Scriptures to be a perfect rule of all divine Institutions? To them we

appeal, by them would we stand or fall; and they mention no Ministers of the Gospel, that were not Bishops ru∣ling the flock. But in pursuance of peace, touching the matter of Episco∣pacy, the moderate Presbyterians are willing to descend to the times lower by one degree, and to come to the Ages next following the Scripture-times, and to accept what they do present un∣to us, to wit, a President-Bishop ruling in consort with Presbyters, and Of∣ficer not of an other Order then Pres∣byters, but of an higher degree in the same Order. We appeal to those times concerning this matter. And they that admire and almost adore antiquity should not deny our just appeal.

And wherein stands the power and glory of the Church militant? Doth it stand in the pompous shews of Cere∣monious worship, with the glistering furniture thereof, in the secular digni∣ties and jurisdictions of the higher rank of Ecclesiasticks, in the implicite faith of the Laicks, and in a formal unifor∣mity

in the outside of Religion? Or in the powerful preaching of the Gospel by able Ministers of the New Testa∣ment, in the lively and spiritual manner of prayer, in the dispensation of Sa∣craments after a manner most effectu∣al to the increase of knowledge, faith, and virtue, in the exercise of discipline to correct all contumacious disobedi∣ence against the known laws of Christ our King and Law-giver, and all per∣formed in a comely order with a grave and sober decency? Let all unprejudi∣ced minds give judgement; which of these two different states of Religion doth most express the Gospel-mini∣stration, which is called the ministra∣tion of the Spirit, and is incomparably more glorious and powerful, then the Mosaical dispensation with all its out∣ward and visible splendor. Let them also judge which of these two is most conformable to the state of the primi∣tive times, wherein the Christian Church, not by an arm of flesh and the wisdom of this world, but by weapons

mighty through God, as the Evange∣lical doctrine and discipline, the holi∣ness of believers, the constancy of Martyrs, overturned the Kingdom of Satan, and advanced the Kingdom of Christ, where Satans Throne was, in opposition to the power of the Roman Empire, the wisedom of the learned Heathens, the counsels of Polititians, the potency of ancient Customs, the inveterate prejudice of all sorts of peo∣ple; and lastly, in opposition to the Devil reigning and raging in them all. Wherefore let us mind the true way of restoring the Christian Religion to its primitive power and glory.