'If you wish to establish christian concord, apply to those who truly believe in Christ.[637] Those who do not listen to the Word cannot explain the Word.... What errors have been introduced by wicked priests! Shall we apply to other priests to correct them, who perhaps surpass the former in wickedness?' Really the pacific Bucer and Melanchthon speak as boldly as Luther and Farel. The king and his councillors were beginning to be alarmed, but more conciliatory words revived their hopes. BUCER. 'All that can be conceded, while maintaining the faith and the love of God, we will concede. Every salutary custom, observed by the ancients, we will restore. We have no desire to upset everything that is standing, and we know very well that the Church here below cannot be without blemish.'[638] [Sidenote: CHURCH GOVERNMENT.] The satisfaction of the king and his councillors increased when they came to Church government. There must be order in the Church, said the protestants. There must be a ministry of the Word; an inspection of the pastors and of the flocks, in order to secure discipline and peace. The service, the time appointed for worshipping in common, the place where the Church should assemble, the holy offices, the temporal aid necessary for the support of the ministry, the care of the poor: all these things require an attentive and faithful administration. These principles were set forth by the reformers, the Strasburg doctor insisting most on this point. BUCER. 'The kingdom of Christ ought not to be without a government. In no place ought order to be stricter, obedience more complete, and power more respected.' Francis I. and his councillors heard these declarations with pleasure. They had been told that the _pretended_ Church of the protestants was composed of atoms that had no cohesion with each other. Others affirmed that the only superior power recognised in it was that of certain theocratic prophets, like Thomas Munzer and others. Francis, therefore, was satisfied to learn that while they acknowledged a universal priesthood, by virtue of which every believer approached God in prayer, protestantism maintained a special evangelical ministry. But what was this ministry, this government? This the king and his advisers desired to know. Here, in our opinion, the mediating divines went wrong: the king's wishes were to be almost satisfied. MELANCHTHON. 'As a bishop presides over several Churches, no one can think it wrong for a pontiff to preside at Rome over several bishops. The Church must have leaders to examine those who are called to the ministry, to judge in ecclesiastical causes, and watch over the teaching of the ministers.... If there were no such bishops, they ought to be created.[639] One sole pontiff may even serve to maintain harmony of faith between the different nations of christendom.'