OF CHURCH CONTROVERSIES. 47 



tention is to be stopped at the first ; being else as 

 the waters, which if they gain a breach, it will hardly 

 ever be recovered.&quot; 



It may be remembered, that on that part, which 

 calls for reformation, was first propounded some dis 

 like of certain ceremonies supposed to be supersti 

 tious ; some complaint of dumb ministers who possess 

 rich benefices; and some invectives against the idle 

 and monastical continuance within the universities, 

 by those who had livings to be resident upon; and 

 such like abuses. Thence they went on to condemn 

 the government of bishops as an hierarchy remaining 

 to us of the corruptions of the Roman church, and 

 to except to sundry institutions in the Church, as not 

 sufficiently delivered from the pollutions of former 

 times. And lastly, they are advanced to define of 

 an only and perpetual form of policy in the Church; 

 which, without consideration of possibility, and fore 

 sight of peril, and perturbation of the Church and 

 State, must be erected and planted by the magis 

 trate. Here they stay. Others, not able to keep 

 footing in so steep ground, descend farther; That 

 the same must be entered into and accepted of the 

 people, at their peril, without the attending of the 

 establishment of authority. And so in the mean 

 time they refuse to communicate with us, reputing 

 us to have no Church. This has been the progres 

 sion of that side: I mean of the generality. For, I 

 know, some persons, being of the nature, not only to 

 love extremities, but also to fall to them without 

 degrees, were at the highest strain at the first. 



