Hooker’s thesis
Surely the present forme of Churchgovernment which the lawes of this land have established, is such, as no lawe of God, nor reason of man hath hitherto bene alleaged of force sufficient to prove they do ill, who to the uttermost of their power withstand the alteration thereof. Contrariwise, The other which in stead of it we are required to accept, is only by error and misconceipt named the ordinance of Jesus Christ, no one proofe as yet brought forth whereby it may cleerely appeare to be so in very deede.
- Richard Hooker, Of the Lawes of Ecclesiasticall Politie, Preface, 1.2 [1593]. Hooker writes in defense of the Church of England’s episcopal system of church governance, against Genevan presbyterianism.
