OF THE PACIFICATION OF THE CHURCH. 63 



For who seeth not that many are affected, and 

 give opinion in these matters^ as if they had not so 

 much a desire to purge the evil from the good, as to 

 countenance and protect the evil by the good ? 

 Others speak as if their scope were only to set forth 

 what is good, and not to seek what is possible ; 

 which is to wish, and not to propound. Others 

 proceed as if they had rather a mind of removing 

 than of reforming. But howsoever either side, as 

 men, though excellent men, shall run into extremi^ 

 ties; yet your Majesty, as a most wise, equal, and 

 Christian moderator, is disposed to find out the 

 golden mediocrity in the establishment of that which 

 is sound, and in the reparation of that which is 

 corrupt and decayed. To your princely judgment 

 then I do in all humbleness submit whatsoever I shall 

 propound, offering the same but as a mite into the 

 treasury of your wisdom. For as the astronomers 

 do well observe, &quot;that when three of the superior 

 lights do meet in conjunction, it bringeth forth 

 some admirable effects : so there being joined in 

 your Majesty the light of nature, the light of learn 

 ing, and, above all, the light of God s Holy Spirit ; 

 it cannot be but your government must be as a 

 happy constellation over the states of your king 

 doms. Neither is there wanting to your Majesty 

 that fourth light, which though it be but a borrowed 

 light, yet is of singular efficacy and moment added 

 to the rest, which is the light of a most wise and 

 well compounded council ; to whose honourable and 

 grave wisdoms I do likewise submit whatsoever I 



