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.

T. C. Pag. 23. Sect. 4. 5. & Pag. 24. Sect. 1. 2. 3. 4.

It maketh for the purpose which is alleaged out of the firste of the Actes, to proue, that there ought to be tryall of those which are chofen to the ministerie: for when S. Peter sayth, that such a one must be chosen as hath bene continually conuersant with our sauiour Christ, and from the be∣ginning of his preaching vntill the day wherin he ascended into heauen, he ment nothing(a) 1.1 else, but that such a one should be chosen, which was sufficiently instructed, and had bene continually a schol∣ler of our sauiour Christ, and therefore fit to teache and to witnesse that, which they had seene, and whose godly conuersation was notorionsly knowne.

Besides that, albeit those two Mathias and Barsabas were therfore set vp in the middest, that the Church in the prayer that was made for their election, might by seing them, pray the earnestlyer for them: yet it was also as much to say, that if any coulde obiect any thing against them, that he should preferre his obiection.

And whether they were examined or 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉s, the matter is not great, neyther when it is sayd that a tryall shoulde be had, it is ment, that when the parties are famously knowne to those which haue the right of election, that there shoulde be alwayes necessarily an apposing and examining, so that the sufficiencie of doctrine and holynesse of life (for the which cause the tryall and examination is commaunded) be knowne and agreed vpon by them, that chose, it is enough.

And so these two beyng notoriously knowen and consented of by the Churche, to be fitte men, myght happely not be examyned, but yet the wordes of Saynt Peter declare plainely, that in the choyse of them, there was regarde had to both, their abilitie to teache, and honestie of conuersation.

And althoughe there be certaine things extraordinarie in thys election,(b) 1.2 as that suche a one must be chosen which had been conuersant wyth our sauiour Christ, and that there were two put vp for one place, and that it was permitted to lottes, to cast the Apostleship vpon one of them two, as if the Lorde shoulde by the lottes from heauen, tell, who shoulde haue it: yet it followeth not to saye, that the reste of the things that are there vsed, should not be practised in ordinarie callings, for as much they will well agree with them.

And Maister Caluine in the place you alleage saythe, that the ordinarie callings somewhat differ from the calling of the Apostles, and after sheweth wherein: that is, in that they were ap∣poynted immediatly of God, and by hys mouthe: whereby it appeareth, that for the residue of those things whych are there mentioned, he holdeth that they may well stande wyth the ordinarye elec∣tions.

Io. Whitgifte.

This Replie standeth all by coniectures: it is certayne that there was no triall had of them, bicause they were sufficiently knowne, and therefore the texte with∣out discretion alleaged, to proue that there oughte to be a tryall of theyr abilitie to instruct &c. If it had bene quoted to proue that suche as were admitted into the function, were méete for the same, bothe sor their lyfe and doctrine, it had bene to some pur∣pose. I thynke it necessarye that suche as bée admitted into the ministerie (vn∣lesse they bée verye well knowne) shoulde be tryed, bothe in learning, and lyfe, but this place maketh nothing at all for that purpose, but rather contrarie, for it spea∣keth of suche two as were well knowne, and therefore néeded no tryall: so that if wée conclude any thyng of that place, it muste bée this, that none oughte to bée admitted into the ministerie, but suche as be well knowne, and néede no tryall.

There was no other cause of presentyng them, than that whyche is expres∣sed in the texte, and it is presumption to make the Scripture serue to maynteyn oure contentions, agaynste the expresse woords and playn meaning.

If thys be a rule to be followed, it muste be followed wholly: for where haue you learned to adde, or take from any lawe or rule prescribed in Gods woorde? or howe doe ye knowe that this example must be followed in one thing, and not in an other? what speciall reuelation haue you to make any suche dismembring of this action? No doubte thys example is extraordinarie, and not of necessitie to bée fol∣lowed.

The woordes of M. Caluine are playne, that there can be no certaine rule gathered of this example, for the electing of ministers, bicause the calling of the Apostles doth some∣thing differ from the calling of other ministers.

Notes

• (a) 1.1

  Surelye that was not so much ment, as that he might be a fitte witnesse of the doyngs of Christ and of his resur∣rection.
• (b) 1.2

  If all these be extraordinarie, what haue you left in that elec∣tion, as ordinary〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 or how proue you the other to be ordinarie more than some of these.