Besides that, I answere wheresoeuer there is a Churche, there are the riches of the spirite of God, there is with knowledge, discretion, and wisedome, and there are such as S. Paule calleth wise and can discerne and iudge. And wee see that when men are called to a lawfull and profyt〈1 line〉〈1 line〉∣ble callyng, and especially to a publike callyng, God doth poure on his giftes of that person which is so called so plentyfully that he is as it were sodeynly made a newe man, whych if he dee in the wicked as Saule was, there is no doubt but he will doe it in those which are with the testimonie* 1.1 of the church, & with experience of their former godlie behauiour, chosen to such offices of weight. So that there is not nor can not be any want to obey Gods commaundement, and to establish the order in the Church which God hath appointed, but our owne eyther negligence and slouthfulnes, or fearfulnesse or ambition〈1 line〉〈1 line〉or some other leauen which we nourishe within our selues.
This lacketh proose: for sometymes the churche of God is, where there is ney∣ther good Pastor, nor méete gouernour, as in the tyme of Elias. And though God somtymes bestow his gifts vpon y• person that is called to a lawful and a publike function as he did vpon Saule, yet doth he not alway so. God doth not of necessitie tye his graces to* 1.2 offices: for as he in the beginning of his churche miraculously bestowed his giftes: so doth he now leaue the same, by outwarde meanes in parte to be obteyned, as by education, learning, instruction, reading, studying. &c. which meanes being neglec∣ted, God doth of his iustice permitte euill Magistrates and officers, which he also sometymes doth for the offences of the people, as may be séene in the most parte of the kings of Iuda, and of Ierusalem, and almost in all christian princes and gouer∣nours vnder the Popes tyrannie: For I suppose you meane such giftes as be profi∣table for the Churche.
Surely if this were true that you here so boldly withoute proofe affirme, then should it not much skill what kind of men wer chosen to be either Pastors, or Magi∣strates, for howsoeuer they were before furnished with gifts, yet when they be once* 1.3 called, God will miraculously poure vpon them gifts necessary, though they be the rudest and ignorantest men in a whole countrey. Is not this to boast of the spirit as the Anabaptists do? but I thinke the Reader vnderstandeth, that God now worketh by ord〈1 line〉〈1 line〉narie meanes, not by miracles. And though it be certaine that God dothe en∣due magistrates, such as feare him with singular gifts, yet doth he it by meanes as is said, and it is not at all times so, nor in all persons, but whē, where, and in whome it pleaseth him. Therefore to ground any generall doctrine vpon singular examples: or to stablish an externall kind of gouernment vpon Gods inward and secret wor∣king: to bind God vnto that of necessitie, that he doth bestow of grace and mercy: to make that common to al, which he of his infinite wisedome bestoweth vpon some: is not the part of a skilfull diuine.
But to let all this passe: you do still petere principium, and take that as graunted, which you cannot proue, that is, that the office of Seniors is an office established in the Church by the commaundement of God, and not to be altered: whiche I for my part can neuer graunt vnto you, except you haue more pithie reasons to proue it, than any that you haue as yet vttered.