hath these words: "Whose wisdom and humility (I
speak it confidently) may safely be trusted with as large a share of
government as they themselves desire." Well, but suppose now the same
corruption to be in other men's hearts, that they are in great danger of
an ambitious ensnarement if they be trusted with government, is this
corruption only in the hearts of ministers, or is it in the hearts of all
other men? I suppose he will say, in all men's hearts, and then his
argument will conclude against all civil government. Last of all, Admit
that there be just fears of abusing the power and government
ecclesiastical,--let the persons to be intrusted with it be examined, and
the power itself bounded according to the strictest rules of Christ. Let
abuses be prevented, reformed, corrected. The abuse cannot take away the
use where the thing itself is necessary. Why might he not have satisfied
himself without speaking against the thing itself? Once, indeed, he
seemeth to recoil, and saith, "Only I would have it so bounded, that it
might be said, Hitherto shalt thou come, and here shalt thou stay thy
proud waves," yet by and by he passeth his own bounds, and totally
renounceth the government to the civil power, which I shall speak to anon.
But I must first ask, Whence is this fear of the proud swelling waves of
presbyterial government? Where have they done hurt? Was it upon the coast
of France, or upon the coast of Holland, or upon the coast of Scotland, or
where was it? Or was it the dashing upon _terra in cognita_? He that would
forewarn men to beware of presbyterial usurpations (for so the brother
speaking to the present controversy about church government must be
apprehended), and to make good what he saith falls upon the stories of
Pope Paul V., and of the Bishop of Canterbury, is not a little wide from
the mark. I should have expected some examples of evils and mischiefs
which presbyterial government hath brought upon other reformed churches.

Well, the reverend brother hath not done, but he proceedeth thus: "It was
the king of Sodom's speech to Abraham, 'Give me the persons, take thou the
goods;' so say I, Give us doctrine, take you the government: as is said,
Right Honourable, give me leave to make this request in the behalf of the
ministry. Give us two things and we shall do well: 1. Give us learning;
and, 2. Give us a competency."

This calls to mind a story which Clemens Alexandrinus tells us:(1338) When
one had painte