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

Articles collected out of the for∣mer Admonition, and vntruely sayd (of the fau∣tors of that Admonition) to be falsified.

TO the end of the second Admonitiō there is ioyned A reprofe of certen Articles, collected (as it is thought) by the byshops, (for so they say) out of a little booke entituled, An admonition to the Parliament. &c. But as I think, it may rather be termed, a recantation, or (if you will) a reformatiō or mitigation of certen articles in that first ad∣monition rashly set downe, and without lear∣ning or discretion printed.

1. Fol. 3. li. 1. pa. 2. First, they holde and affirme, that we in Englād are not yet come to the out∣ward face of a Church agreable to gods word. Here you find fault that this word scarce is left out. In déede this worde scarce was written in the margent of diuers copies of the first admonition: whether it were so in al, or no, I know not: no more do I whether any suche collection (as you pretend) was made. But what néed you so much sticke in words, when the thing is manyfest? For in effect they denie as much as that propositiō importeth: they wholly cōdemne the ministerie, the ceremonies, and the gouernement of this Church. They say the sacramēts be ful of corruptiōs: and in their second Admonitiō, fol. 42. they say, that the sacraments are wickedly man∣gled & prophaned: they vtterly condemne our order & maner of cōmon prayer: yea in effect our doctrine also, for in their secōd Admonitiō, fol. 7. they say, that although some truth be taught by some preachers, yet no precher may w^t out dāger of the lawes, vtter all truth cōprised in the booke of God. What can be spoken more slēderly of y^e doctrine preached in this church?

A man may truly speake as much of the Romish church: for some truthe is taught by some Papistes: yea some truth is taught by some Iew and Turke. When therfore, you say, that in this Churche neither the worde is truely preached, nor the Sacraments sincerely ministred, nor yet Ecclesiasticall discipline (which thrée in the first Ad∣monition, Fol. 3. is sayde to be the outwarde markes wherby a true christian Churche is knowne) and also condemne our ministerie as Popish and vnlaw∣full, with the whole gouernement of our Church (as you do in playne termes) may it not be truely sayde, that you affirme vs in Englande as yet not to be come to the out∣warde face of a Churche agreable to Gods worde? Fur∣thermore, what doth this word scarce, helpe the matter, doth it not import as muche? It is a rule in Philosophie, quod vix fit, non fit, that vvhich is scar••e done is not done.

2 They will haue the ministers to be called, allowed, and placed by the people. You say, that this article is falsified: and yet their words in that place of their admonitiō be these: Then election was made by the common consent of the whole Churche. And a little after: Then no minister placed in any congregation, without the cōsent of the people. Wherfore the collection is very true, and they belike a∣shamed of their doings: and therfore they haue corrected these assertions in their second edition of their first admo∣nitiō, on this sort: Then election was made by the elders, with the common consent of the whole Churche. Surely these men be past shame, else would they not denie their owne written assertions.

4. Lin. 9. They holde that a byshop at no hand hath authoritie to ordeyne ministers. This arti∣cle you confesse to be truely gathered: but now you make

this glose (not alone) and yet in their Admonition it is in flat termes, that the ordering of ministers doth at no hande appertaine to bishops.

6. Lin. 28. They wil haue the ministers at their owne pleasure to preache without licence. This is true, by your owne cōfession, for you will haue no other licence, but your calling to the ministerie, which must bee (as you say) by the congregation. Here you shut out both the Princes licence and the Bishops.

7. Lin. 13 fol. 17. lin. 6. pa. 1. Whatsoeuer is set downe in this article is manyfestly affirmed in the Admonition, and your Answere to it is friuolous, and nothing to the purpose. For in the first parte of the Admonition, fol. 2. pag. 1. These be the words: In those days knowne by voyce, learning, and doctrine: now they must be discerned from other, by Popishe and Anti∣christian apparel, as cap, gowne, tippet. &c. And in the second part speaking of the apparell prescribed to ministers, they say on this sorte: There is no order in it, but confusion: no comlynesse, but deformi∣tie: no obedience, but disobedience both against God and the Prince. Are you not then ashamed to say, that this article, (they will haue the minister discerned from others by no kynde of apparell, and the apparell appoynted they terme Anti∣christian, and the apparell appoynted by the Prince, disobedience against the Prince,) is fal∣sifyed?

Fol. 4. lin. ••. pag. 2. They will haue all Archebi∣shops, Bishops, Archdecons. &c. together with their offices, iurisdictions, Courts, and liuings cleane taken awaye, and with speede remoued. You say, that this is falsifyed in part, bicause there is left

out Lords grace, Iustice of peace, & Quorū. &c. Surely the article is truly collected in euery poynte, and playnly affirmed in the .2. leaf of the first part of that Ad∣monition. As for your giuing words that follow, they bée but wynd: I warrant you the confutation will abide the light, and the author will shew his face, whyche you are ashamed to doe.

9. Lin. 9. The article is truly collected: Looke in the first part of that Admonition fol. 2. pag. 2. & fol. 3. And in the se∣cond part of that Admo. fol. 1. pag. 2. fol. 5. pag. 1.

17. Lin. 12. The collection is true: for their wordes bée these: They simply as they receyued it from the Lord, we sinfully mixed with mans inuentiōs & deuises. And therfore you vntruly say, y^t it is falsified.

19. Lin. 16. They will haue no godfathers nor godmothers, You say, that this article is also vtterly falsified: what meane you so to forget your selfe? Is it not thus written in the first part of the first Admonition, fol. 3. pag. 2. and as for baptisme it was inough with them if they had water, and the partie to be ba∣ptised, fayth, & the minister to preach the worde and minister the sacraments. Now we muste haue surplesse deuised by Pope Adrian, Inter∣rogatories ministred to the infant, godfathers and godmothers brought in by Higinus &c. Howe say you? Are not godfathers and godmothrs here disallo∣wed? Wherfore be they else in this place recited? or why are they here ascribed to Pope Higinus? Wil you nowe allow any thing in the Churche inuented by the Pope •• In déede in the seconde edition of this firste Admonition, these words godfathers & godmothers broughte in by Higinus, be cleane left out, as I haue before noted. Wherfore either you haue not read the diuersitie of their editions, or else you are very impudent.

22. Fol. 8. in fine. I maruell why you say, that this colle∣ction is falsified? Looke, fol. vlt. pag. 2. of the firste parte of the Admonition.

Out of the second treatise called A view of Popishe abuses remayning.

Fol. 10.10. pa. 1. lin. 33. Reading of seruice or homi∣lies in the Churche is as euill as playing on a stage, and worse too. You saye that this is falsified. Lord God what meane you? In the seconde leafe of that booke these be their direct words, Reading is not fee∣ding, but it is as euill as playing vpon a stage, and worse too. To the same effecte they speake diuers times, and so do the Authours of the seconde Admonition. Surely eyther they are ashamed of their doings, or else you haue not with diligence read their bookes.

Thus breefly to haue answered to your vniust accusa∣tion of falsly collecting certaine articles out of the Booke entituled An admonition. &c. shal be sufficient. Other articles which you say be gathered out of the same booke, and confesse to be true, I haue omitted, bicause they bée sufficiently answered by me in the confutation: and your confirmation of them, is vsuall and childishe.

I woulde wishe that suche as be wyse men and in au∣thoritie, would diligently consider that whiche you aun∣swere to the article, Fol. 14. (as you quote it) touching the gouernement of the Churche, and the authoritie of Prin∣ces and their lawes: and likewyse that which is written concerning the same matters in the second Admonition: I wil make them neyther better nor worse, but wish the magistrates well to marke your iudgements & opinions in these matters, and to foresée the worst. The Lord blesse this realme of Englande with the continuance of his Gospel, long life of the Quéenes maiestie, & peace bothe foreyne and domesticall. Amen.