The defense of the aunsvvere to the Admonition against the replie of T.C. By Iohn VVhitgift Doctor of Diuinitie. In the beginning are added these. 4. tables. 1 Of dangerous doctrines in the replie. 2 Of falsifications and vntruthes. 3 Of matters handled at large. 4 A table generall.

Ansvvere to the Admonition. Pag. 25. Sect.. 2. 3. &. Pag. 26. 27. 28. & Pag. 29. Sect. 1. 2. 3. 4.

But I trust M. Caluines iudgement will weigh something with them, who in his Institutions Cap. 13. Sect. 31. &. 32. speaking of tra∣ditions, sayth in this sort.

Bicause the Lorde hath both faithfully and plainly comprehended, and declared in the holie scriptures, the whole summe of true righteousnesse, & all the parts of the true worshipping of him, and what so euer is necessarie vnto saluation, therfore in those things he is only to be heard, as a maister, or teacher: But bicause in externall discipline & ceremonies he would not particularly prescribe, vvhat we ought to folow, bicause he foresavv that this depended vpon the state and condition of the time, neyther did iudge one form or maner to be agreable to al ages, here we must haue a respect to those general rules which he gaue, that according to thē might be examined such things, as the necessitie of the Church requireth to be cōmanded for order & decencie. Finally, bicause in these things he hath expressed nothing (for that they are neither necessarie to saluation, and may be diuersly applied to the edifying of the Church, according to the maner and custome of euery countrey and age) Therfore as the cōmoditie of the Church requireth, & as shal be thought conuenient, both the old may be abrogated & nevve ap∣pointed. I graunt that we must not rashely nor often, nor for euery lighte cause make innouations. But vvhat hurteth, and vvhat edifieth charitie wil best iudge, which if vve vvil suffer to be the moderatrix, al shalbe safe & wel. Now it is the office of Christian people vvith a free cōscience, vvithout su∣superstition,

with a godlie minde and readie and willing to obey, to obserue those things which are appointed according to this rule, not to contemne them, nor negligently to omit them, so farre off ought they to be from brea∣king them openly thorough disdaine and contumacie.

But thou wilte say, vvhat libertie of conscience can there be in so precise and straight obseruing of them? truely the libertie of conscience may well stand vvich it, if we shall consider that these lavves and decrees to the which we are bounde, be not perpetuall, or suche as are not to be abrogated: but only externall rudiments of mans infirmities: wherof notvvithstanding we all stande not in neede, yet vvee all vse them, bicause one of vs is mutually bound to an other, to nourishe loue and charitie among our selues.

This we may lerne in the examples vsed before. VVhat? doth religion cō∣sist in a womans vaile, that by no meanes she may goe abrode bare headed? or is the cōmaundement touching hir silence suche, as it may not be broken without wickednesse? or is there any mysterie in kneeling, or in burying the dead, that may not be omitted without great offence? No truly: for if such hast be required of a vvoman to help hir neighboure, that she can haue no ley sure to couer hir head, she doth not offende, though she runne out bare headed. And there is a tyme & place when and vvhere it is as mete for hir to speak, as it is elsewhere to hold hir peace. Him also to pray standing, which being letted vvith some disease, can not kneele, there is nothing forbiddeth. To be short, it is better in tyme to burie the dead, than to tarie for a winding sheete, or some to carie him, vntil he stinke aboue the ground. But there is somewhat euen in thosethings, vvhich the custome of Religion, lavves, and decrees, humanitie it self, and the rule of modestie willeth vs to do, & to take heed of, wherin if we shal through ignorāce & forgetfulnes offēd, ther is no sin cōmitted: But if through cōtempt or contumacie, it is to be reproued. In like maner it skilleth not what days be appointed, what houres, what maner of places touching the building, what Psalms are to be song this day or that day: And yet there must certain dayes be appointed, & certain houres, and a place mete to receiue al, if we haue any respect to keepe vnitie & peace. For what cōfusion were it, & of how great cōtentions & braulings the seed, and cause, if euery man as he listeth, might alter and chaunge those things which pertein to the cōmon state: Seing that it would neuer be broughte to passe, that one thing could please all men, if such matters were left indifferent, and cōmitted to euery mans arbitrement? Now if any man repine or grudge, & vvill here seme wiser than it behoueth him, let him cōsider by what reason he can excuse his waywardnesse in the Lorde. Notvvithstanding that say∣ing of S. Paule must ••atisfie vs: we haue no custome to contend, neither the* 1.1 Churches of God. Thus farre Caluine.

In whiche wordes we haue these things to consider: Firste that* 1.2 God hath in the Scripture fully and plainly comprehended all those things that be necessarie to saluation.

Secondly, that in Ceremonies and externall discipline, he hath not in Scripture particularly determined any thing, but lefte the same to his Churche, to make or abrogate, to alter, or continue, to adde, or take away, as shall bee thoughte from tyme to tyme, moste conueniente, for the presente state of the Churche, so that nothyng be doone, agayust that generall rule of Sainct Paule. 1. Corin. 14.

Let all things be done decently and in order.

Thirdly, that it is the dutie of a Christian man without supersti∣tion willingly to obey such constitutions, not to contemne them, not to neglect them, muche lesse stubbornely and arrogantly to breake them.

Fourthly, that the obseruing of them taketh not libertie from the couscience, bicause they be not made to be perpetual and inuiolable, but to be altered, as tyme, occasion and necessitie requireth.

Fifthly, that all ought to obey suche ordinances, for charitie sake, though all stande not in neede of them.

Sixthly, that if a man doe violate them by ignorance or forget∣fulnesse, he doth not offende, if by contempt or stubbornesse he doth greately offende.

Seuenthly, that confusion (whiche is to suffer euery man to doe what he list) is the seede of contention and brawling.

Last of all, that the true ministers of God be not contentious, neither yet the Churches of God.

These things among other I thought good to note oute of M. Caluines wordes, whiche if they were diligentely considered, suche contentions might soone be ended.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1. Cor. 11.
• * 1.2

  Collections out of Cal∣uine.