46 OF CHURCH CONTROVERSIES. 



the ordinary government of the Church. As for the 

 deprivation of bishops, and such like causes, this 

 mischief hath taught the use of archbishops, patri 

 archs, and primates; as the abuse of them since hath 

 taught men to mislike them. 



But it will be said, Look to the fruits of the 

 churches abroad and ours. To which I say, that I 

 beseech the Lord to multiply his blessings and graces 

 upon those churches an hundred fold. But yet it is 

 not good, that we fall on the numbering of them ; 

 it may be our peace hath made us more wanton : it 

 may be also, though I would be loth to derogate 

 from the honour of those churches, were it not to 

 remove scandals, that their fruits are as torches in 

 the dark, which appear greatest afar off. I know 

 they may have some strict orders for the repressing 

 of sundry excesses : but when I consider of the cen 

 sures of some persons, as well upon particular men 

 as upon churches, I think on the saying of a Plato- 

 nist, who saith, &quot; Certe vitia irascibilis partis animag 

 sunt gradu praviora, quam concupiscibilis, tametsi 

 occultiora ;&quot; a matter that appeared much by the 

 ancient contentions of bishops. God grant that we 

 may contend with other churches, as the vine with 

 the olive, which of us shall bear the first fruit; and 

 not as the brier with the thistle, which of us is most 

 unprofitable. And thus much touching the occasions 

 of these controversies. 



Now, briefly to set down the growth and pro 

 gression of the controversies ; whereby will be veri 

 fied the saying of Solomon, that &quot; the course of con- 



