And what meane you, still to vse this fighting with your owne shadowe? for where are the words, or what be they that condemne all the ministers for some? that say all the ministers are vn∣lawfully admitted, for some? or that there is none good, bycause some are bad? If there be no suche words, as carrie with them any such sense, then you do wrong to your brethren. If there be words that declare the cleane contrary, then all men see what you be, which although you often faulte in, yet I am loth so often to name and charge you with it. When it is said, that learned and vnlearned are receiued, it is euident that they condemne not all.
The Lord blesse and increase an hundreth fold the godly, wise, learned, graue ministers of this Church, and bycause these words seeme to rocke vs asleepe, and to bring vs into forgetfulnesse of the great ruines and desolations of the Church, I must tell you that two thousand able and suffi∣cient ministers, which preach and feede diligently and carefully the flocke of Christ, were hard to be found in this Church, which haue bin notwithstanding found in the Church of France, by the estimation of those which know the estate, euen vnder the time of the crosse, where there were no such helps of Magistrates, and appoynted stipends, as God be praysed we haue.
And agayne, you are to be put in mind, that a great number of those were bredde in king Ed∣wards days, so that I feare me a man neede no great Arithmetike to count the numbers of suche able ministers, as the late yeares haue brought foorth. And yet I am well assured, that if the mi∣nisterie were reformed, and woorthy men were sought for, there are great numbers of zelous and learned men, that would lay their hands to serue this kind of building by the ministerie. For be∣sides numbers that the vniuersities would yeld, which sighe for the repairing of the decays of the Churche, to helpe forwarde so greate a worke, the Innes of Court, and other the Gentrie of the Realme, Galene, and Iustinian, would bring their tenthes, and (as it were) pay their shotte in this reckening.
Their words be playne, for they say whereas in the old Churche a triall was had. &c. now by the letters commendatorie of some one man. &c. whereby they set this time as con∣trary vnto that, bycause some haue bin admitted without triall: and therefore make that fault generall, which is particular, and in very déede condemne all for some. If it were not so, why shoulde either they or you condemne the rule, and not the persons only? why should they say that we haue no right ministerie? why should the second Ad∣monition from the beginning to the end, so raile vpon all the states and degrées of ministers and preachers in this Church, which do not consent with them in distur∣bing the Church, and opposing themselues against lawfull orders and lawes. Looke Fol. 32. of the. 2. Admonition especially, and so foorth, where they speake in most vn∣christian maner. And though these mē in thys place say learned and vnlearned, yet doth it not follow that they condemne not all, of an vnlawfull calling, and of not being tried, and examined as well in life, as learning. But what néede you make such ado in clo∣king a matter to notorious? for what do either they or you, but deface euen the best learned, and wisest of such as withstand you: thinking none sufficiently learned, but yourselues and your adherents?
For the number of sufficient ministers in France, able to preach in the time of the crosse, I will not take vppon me to define any thing: yet haue I talked with some wise, god∣ly, and learned preachers of that countrie, such as had good cause to know the state of that Church touching that matter: and truly for any thing that I can learne of them, you haue ouershot your selfe in reckening at the least. 14. hundreth. But I am not