44 OF CHURCH CONTROVERSIES. 



was before our eyes, had long since brought us to the 

 re-baptisation of children baptised according to the 

 pretended catholic religion : for I see that which is 

 a matter of much like reason, which is the re-ordain 

 ing of priests, is a matter already resolutely main 

 tained. It is very meet that men beware how they 

 be abused by this opinion ; and that they know, that 

 it is a consideration of much greater wisdom and 

 sobriety to be well advised, whether in general 

 demolition of the institutions of the church of Rome, 

 there were not, as men s actions are imperfect, some 

 good purged with the bad, rather than to purge the 

 Church, as they pretend, every day anew ; which is 

 the way to make a wound in the bowels, as is already 

 begun. 



The fourth and last occasion of these controver 

 sies, a matter which did also trouble the Church in 

 former times, is the partial affectation and imitation 

 of foreign churches. For many of our men, during 

 the time of persecution, and since, having been con 

 versant in Churches abroad, and received a great 

 impression of the form of government there ordained, 

 have violently sought to intrude the same upon our 

 Church. But I answer, &quot; Consentiamus in eo quod 

 convenit, non in eo quod receptum est ;&quot; let us agree 

 in this, that every church do that which is convenient 

 for the state of itself, and not in particular customs. 

 Although their churches had received the better form, 

 yet many times it is to be sought, &quot; non quod opti 

 mum, sed e bonis quid proximum ;&quot; not that which 

 is best, but of good things which is the best and 



