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.

Admonition.

May it therefore please your wisedomes to vnderstande, we in Englande are so farre off, from hauing a Church rightly reformed, according to the prescript of Gods word, that as yet we are not

come to the outwarde face of the same. For to speake of that wherein all consent, and wherevpon all writers accorde. The outwarde markes wherby a true Christian Church is knowne, are prea∣ching of the worde purely, ministring of the Sacramentes sincerely, and Ecclesiasticall discipline, which consisteth in admonition and correcting of faultes seuerely. Touching the first, namely the ministerie of the worde, althougher must be confessed, that the substance of doctrine by many de∣liuered is sounde and good, yet herein it fayleth, that neither the Ministers thereof are accordyng to Gods worde proued, elected, called or ordained: nor the function in such sorte so narrowly loked vnto, as of right it ought, and is of necessitie required.

Ansvvere to the Admonition. Pag. 34. &. 35.

The proposition that these libellers woulde proue is, that we in Englande are so farre from hauyng a Churche rightly reformed accordyng to the prescripte of Gods worde, that as yet we are not come to the outwarde face of the same. For proofe hereof they vse this argnment: There be three out warde markes whereby a true Christian Churche is knowen: preaching of the worde purely, mi∣nistryng of the Sacramentes sincerely: and ecclesiasticall discipline, whiche consisteth in Admonition and correction of faultes seuerely. But thys Church of Englande (for so in effecte they saye) is voyde of all these, Ergo it hath not so much as the externall face of a Church. To proue that the worde of God is not preached truely, they reason on thys sort: The Ministers of the worde are not according to gods worde, proued, elected, called or ordeyned, nor the function in suche sort so narrowly loked vnto, as of right it ought, & is of necessitie re∣quired: And therfore the word of God not truely preached. Here* 1.1 (thankes be to God) they alleage not one article of Faith, or poynte of doctrine, nor one peece of any substance, to be otherwise taughte and allowed of in thys Churche (for not euery mannes folly is to be ascribed to the whole Churche) than by the prescripte worde of God may be iustified, neyther can they. Nowe howe this conclusi∣on followeth (though the antecedent were true) let those iudge that be learned. The Ministers are not rightly proued and elected. &c.* 1.2 Ergo the worde of God is not truely preached: howe wicked so e∣uer the man is, howsoeuer he intrude hymselfe into the ministerie, yet maye he preache the true worde of God. For the truthe of the doctrine dothe not in anye respecte depende vpon the goodnesse or euilnesse of the man: I praye you howe were you, and some other of your adherentes called, elected, &c? But to come to the purpose: They woulde proue that the Ministers of the worde in this Church of Englande, are not accordyng to gods worde proued, elected, called or ordeyned.

What force and pithe is in their argumentes, shall appeare in the seuerall answeres to euery one of them. This one thing I muste let you vnderstande, that these men seeke to deface thys Churche of Englande, by the selfe same groundes that the Papistes doe: al∣thoughe by another kynde of proofe. For what haue the Papistes else to saye, but that we haue no Ministers, bycause they be not rightly called, and so consequently no worde, no Sacramentes, no discipline, no Churche. And certainely if it were well examyned, I beleeue it woulde fall oute, that the Authors of this Booke haue

conspired with the Papistes to ouerthrowe (if they coulde) the state both of this Churche and Realme, howsoeuer subtilly they seeme to detest Papistrie.

Notes

• * 1.1

  All pointes of doctrine pure in this church.
• * 1.2

  An vnapt r〈1 line〉〈1 line〉∣son.