The selfe same reason you had before, and I answere it nowe as I did then. The* 1.1 causes by me there alleaged be sufficient to proue the difference betwixt the gouern∣ment of a Prince, and the gouernment of a Bishop. And yet no man will denie but that one Prince shall better be able to gouerne one kingdome, than the whole world. And to affirme that the whole worlde may be conteyned in one Monarchie, learned men saye is multis modis absurdissimum, In diuers respectes moste absurde. I bring the* 1.2 example of a King, bicause other writers vse the like examples in the like matter to confute suche vnlikely reasons, and namely M. Caluine in the words following.
That which M. Doctor affirmeth of one bishop ouer one whole prouince, and of one By∣shop ouer the whole worlde, no man will denie. A warrant for the one are the examples of Timothie and Titus, and the continuall practise of the Churche without contra∣diction in the best tymes: but there is no warrant for the other of any credite or suffi∣cience, béeing onely in the moste corrupt tyme of the Churche, and contrarie to all former examples and Canons.
You say, if the whole Churche be in one prouince. &c. I say, that if the skie fall you may catche larkes, as the common prruerbe is. Moreouer, if it were possible so to be (as nowe it is not) then it were no absurditie the Bishop of that Prouince still to re∣mayne Bishop of the same. But what moueth you to suche straunge suppositions?* 1.3 I might aswell say, if the whole Churche were in one Citie, or Towne, or Parishe, as it was in Ierusalem after Christes ascention, and one Bishop or Pastor might be ouer that citie, or towne, or parishe, then one Bishop or Pastor shoulde be ouer the* 1.4 whole Churche: and so you likewise in trauelling with a pastor to be in one Churche, at the length bring foorth a Pope. But doe you not knowe that the Churche of Christ is dis∣persed throughout the whole worlde, and can not nowe be shut vp in one kingdome? muche lesse in one prouince, excepte you will become Donatistes. He that is not wilfully blinde may sée into what streights you are driuen, when you are constrey∣ned to vtter suche impossibilities for reasons.