50 OF CHURCH CONTROVERSIES. 



bulent thing, as well as innovation. A good husband 

 is ever pruning in his vineyard or his field ; not un 

 seasonably, indeed, not unskilfully, but lightly ; he 

 findeth ever somewhat to do. We have heard of no 

 offers of the bishops of bills in parliament ; which, 

 no doubt, proceeding from them to whom it properly 

 belongeth, would have every where received accep 

 tation. Their own constitutions and orders have 

 reformed them little. Is nothing amiss ? Can any 

 man defend the use of excommunication as a base 

 process to lackey up and down for duties and fees ; 

 it being a precursory judgment of the latter day? 



Is there no mean to train and nurse up ministers, 

 for the yield of the universities will not serve, though 

 they were never so well governed ; to train them, I 

 say, not to preach, for that every man confidently 

 adventureth to do, but to preach soundly, and to 

 handle the Scriptures with wisdom and judgment? 

 I know prophesying was subject to great abuse, and 

 would be more abused now ; because heat of conten 

 tions is increased : but I say the only reason of the 

 abuse was, because there was admitted to it a popu 

 lar auditory ; and it was not contained within a pri 

 vate conference of ministers. Other things might 

 be spoken of. I pray God to inspire the bishops with 

 a fervent love and care of the people ; and that they 

 may not so much urge things in controversy, as things 

 out of controversy, which all men confess to be gra 

 cious and good. And thus much for the second 

 point. 



Now, as to the third point, of unbrotherly pro- 



