An ansvvere to a certen libel intituled, An admonition to the Parliament, by Iohn VVhitgifte, D. of Diuinitie

Answere.

I know not what you meane by the halfe commu∣nion, I finde no such worde in the Cōmunion booke: If you meane the communion in one kinde, you speake vn∣truely and slaunderously of the booke, and of this whole Church: If you meane the scriptures and prayers appoin∣pointed to be read when there is no communion, then do you vniustly liken them to the cōmemoration of the Masse, being most fruteful scriptures, & godly prayers.

The name of Priest néede not be so odious vnto you as you would séeme to make it. I suppose it commeth of this worde Presbyter, and not of Sacerdos, and then the matter is not great.

The Priest or priests that translated this book, be not so scornefully to be taunted: I thinke some of them haue ended their lyues in the fyre, and all of them singu∣ler both in lyfe, religion, and learning: Speake not so contemptuously of so worthie men: vtter not youre hau∣tie stomackes with so spitefull wordes towardes youre superiours and betters, least you proue your selues to be in the number of those, of whome Saincte Paule spea∣keth. 2. Tim. 3. vse. 2.3.4.5. and Iudas in his epistle vse. 8. It is true that the presthod of the old law is abolished, but the place of Scripture noted in your margent proueth it not. For Hebrues. 5. Paule doth shew why the highe

Prieste was ordeyned, and what were his offices: But hée speaketh nothing of the abolishing of the Priesthoode. I muse what you meane thus vnnecessarily to paynte youre margent, and that with so little iudgemente and lesse discretion. The ninth to the Hebrues is some thing to the purpose, but néedlesse.

Touching popish Priests (as you call them) whether they ought to haue any place in our Church or no, I haue spoken before, where I haue also answered your margi∣nall notes concerning that matter.

You farre ouershotte your selfe in my opinion, when you set it downe, that you neuer read in the newe Testament this worde Priest, touching office to be vsed in good parte. What say you to the fourth to the Hebrues? vse. 14. Seeing then that we haue a greate high priest which is entred into heauen Iesus Christe, &c. And vse. 15. For we haue not a hye priest whiche can not be touched with the feeling of oure infirmities, but. &c. And chap. 5. vse. 6. Thou art a priest for euer. &c. And A∣pocalips. 5. 1. Peter. 2. But what shoulde I trouble you with a tedious heaping vp of Scriptures? Shew me one place in this Epistle, yea in the whole newe Testament where this worde priest is taken in euill parte, touching office. Truly eyther you are farre deceyued, or else my vnderstanding fayleth mée. I condemne that office and institution of sacrificing for the quicke and the deade with you, and I knowe it is condemned in the scriptures manyfestely, and namely in the ninthe and tenthe to the Hebrues.