If there be no churches established / because there are no christian Magistrates / then the churches of the Apostles were not established. And it is absurd to say / that the ministers now with the help of the magistrate / can lay surer foundations of the church / or build more cunningly or substantially / then the Apostles could / which were the master builders of the church of God. And as for the consummation of the body of the church / and the beauty of it / seeing it consisteth in Jesus Christ / which is the head / that is always joined unseperably in all times of the cross / and not the cross with his body / which is the church: I can not see why the churches under persecution / should not be established / having both the foundation and the nether most parts / as also the top and hiest part of the church / as well as those which have a christian magistrate. If in deed the magistrate / whom God hath sanctified to be a nurse unto his church / were also the head of the same / then the church could not be established without the magistrate / but we learn that although the godly magistrate be the head of the common wealth / and a great ornament unto the church / yet he is but a member of the same. The church may be established without the magistrate / and so / that all the world / and all the Devils of hell can not shake it / but it can not be in quiet / in peace / and in outward surety / without a godly magistrate: And therefore the church in that respect and such like / praiseth God and prayeth for the magistrate / by the which it enjoyeth so singular benefits. Thereupon you conclude / that the church was then popular / which is as untrue / as the former part. For the church is governed with that kind of government / which the Philosophers / that write of the best common wealths / affirm to be the best. For in respect of Christ the head / it is a Monarchy / and in respect of the ancients and pastors / that govern in common / and with like authority amongst them selves / it is an Aristocracy / or the rule of the best men / and in respect that the people are not secluded / but have their interest in church matters / it is a Democracy / or a popular estate.
If there be no churches established / because there are no christian Magistrates / then the churches of the Apostles were not established. And it is absurd to say / that the ministers nowe wyth the helpe of the magistrate / can laye surer foundations of the church / or build more cunningly or substancially / then the Apostles could / whych were the master builders of the church of God. And as for the consummation of the body of the church / and the beautie of it / seeing it consisteth in Iesus Christe / whych is the heade / that is alwayes ioyned vnseperably in all times of the crosse / and not the crosse wyth his body / whych is the church: I can not see why the churches vnder persecution / should not be established / hauing bothe the foundation and the nether most partes / as also the toppe and hyest parte of the churche / as well as those whych haue a christian magistrate. If in deede the magistrate / whom God hath sanctified to be a nurse vnto his churche / were also the head of the same / then the church could not be established wythout the magistrate / but we learne that although the godly magistrate be the head of the common wealth / and a great ornament vnto the church / yet he is but a member of the same. The churche maye be established wythoute the magistrate / and so / that all the world / and all the Deuilles of hell can not shake it / but it can not be in quiet / in peace / and in outwarde suretie / wythout a godly magistrate: And therefore the churche in that respecte and suche like / praiseth God and prayeth for the magistrate / by the whych it enioyeth so singulare benefites. Therevppon you conclude / that the church was then populare / whych is as vntrue / as the former parte. For the churche is gouerned wyth that kinde of gouernment / whych the Philosophers / that wryte of the best common wealthes / affirme to be the best. For in respecte of Christe the heade / it is a Monarchie / and in respecte of the auncientes and pastoures / that gouerne in common / and wyth like authoritie amongste them selues / it is an Aristocratie / or the rule of the best men / and in respecte that the people are not secluded / but haue their interest in churche matters / it is a Democratie / or a populare estate.
