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I know yt in the primitiue church they had in euery church certain Seniors, to whome the gouernmente of the congregation was committed, but that was before there was any Christian Prince or magistrate that openly professed the Gospell, and before there was anye Churche by publike authoritie established, or vnder Ciuill
gouernment: I told you before, that the diuersitie of tyme and state* 1.1 of the church requireth diuersitie of gouernment in the same. It can not be gouerned in time of prosperitie, as it is in time of persecution: It may not be gouerned vnder a Christian Prince, which doth nou∣rishe and maynteyne it, as it may be vnder a Tyrant, when it is con∣strained to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and seeke corners. It can not be gouerned in a w〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ole realme, as it may be in one little citie or towne: it cannot be gouer∣ned when it is dispersed through many places, as it may be when it is collected into some one narow and certaine place: To be shorte, it can not be gouerned when it is ful of hypocrites, Papists, Atheis〈1 line〉〈1 line〉s, and other wicked persons, as when it hath verie fewe or none such: as cōmonly it hath not in tyme of persecution, when the gold is as it were by fyre tried from the drosse. He that according to this diuer∣sitie of the forme, state, & time of the church, doth not allow a diuersi∣tie of gouernment, doth confound and not edifie. I praye you what Seniors could you haue in most parishes in England fit for that of∣fice? But wise, not wilful men, haue to consider this: God hath giuē the chief gouernment of his church, to the christian magistrate, who hath to consider what is most conuenient: and we must therwith be content, so that nothing be done against faithe, and the commaunde∣ment of God.
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