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CHAP. XVIII.
AFter the foundations of a true Christian Ministry are thus laid both for its Being, which consists in reall abilities discovered, and in valid Authority conferred after the most venerable, Catholick and authentick custome of the Church, which being conforme to the word of God, ought in such cases to be as a Law sacred and inviolable; after I have further set forth the wel-being of the Clergy, and in that of the whole Church, by sustaining able Ministers, in their severall degrees and stations, with such ingenuous maintenance as may become not onely the honor of the work and workmen, but the Glory of the Christians God, the love and value of their Saviour, and the beauty or majesty of the Church, in which they are employ∣ed in so sacred, solemn, publick and constant services, which ought in all reason and Religion to be kept up by all good Christians to some outward conspicuity and decency, as far as Gods indulgence affords men peace and plenty;
The next thing I humbly commend to the Noblenesse, Wis∣dome and Piety of my Country, for the further strengthning and preservation of the being and wel-being of this Church and its Chri∣stian Reformed Religion, both in Ministers and people, able Prea∣chers and honest Professors, is so to combine, cement and unite all worthy Ministers and other Christians in an uniforme and holy har∣mony of due subordination, holy discipline and decent Government, as may best keep them (by Gods blessing) from such fractures and factions, such schismes and swellings, such dashings and dividings against and from each other, as have of latter years not onely bat∣tered themselves and each other to great diminutions, weaknings and deformities, but they have crushed this whole Church, and crumbled its former intirenesse and amplenesse to so many broken bits and pieces, through the impotent ambition of those Ministers or people, who being least apt or able, are most greedy to govern of themselves, and loth to be governed by others: which refracto••i∣nesse hath not onely defaced the beauty, and broken the unity of this Church, but further threatens to shake the civill peace, stabi∣lity and consistence of this Nation, whose honor and happinesse is not onely now at the stake, but much abated, and in hazard to be quite lost, if that publick wisdome and courage be not applied which is necessary to recover the blessing of the Reformed Religion, and the unity of this Church, to such a posture of setled∣ness, order and unity, as shall not need to feare either fanatick Con∣fusion or Romish usurpations, which are the great plots and de∣signes laid against this Church and Nation of England.
I easily foresee, that nothing will be a more hard, knotty and flinty work, than the recomposing of this Church to any Ecclesia∣sticall Uniformity, Charitable Harmony and Orderly Government,