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. Page. 26. Sect. 1.

What ought to be generall, if this ought not, to put the minister that hath bin an Idolater, from his ministerie? is it not a commaundemente of God, and giuen, not of one Leuite or two, but of all* 1.1 those that went backe, not at one time, but at others also, when the like occasion was giuen, as ap∣peareth in the booke of the kings, where all the priests of the Lord that had sacrificed in the high places, were not suffered to come to the altar in Ierusalem? Doth not S. Paule make smaller* 1.2 causes of deposing from the ministerie than Idolatrie? For after he hath described what maner of men the ministers should be, and Deacons, he addeth: And being tried, (a) 1.3 let them execute theyr functions, as long as they remayne blamelesse: I thinke if so be a man had bin knowne to be an a∣dulterer, although he repented him, yet none that is well aduised, would take him into the ministe∣rie: for if S. Paule reiect him that had. ij. wiues at once (which was a thing that the Iewes and Gentiles thought lawfull, and that was common amongst them, and had preuayled throughout all the world) how much lesse would he suffer any to be admitted to the ministerie, which should be an adulterer, and haue another mans wife, which is condemned of all that professe the name of Christ, and which is not so general a mischiefe as that was, and suffer him to abide in the ministerie, which should committe such wickednesse during his function, and likewise of a murtherer, now the sinne of Idolatrie is greater and more detestable, than any of them, in as much as perteyning to the first table, it immediatly stayneth Gods honoure, and breaketh duetie to him, vnto whome we more owe it (without all comparison) than to any mortall man. And if S. Paule in the choise of the widowe to attend vpon the sicke of the Churche, which was the lowest office in the Churche, requireth not only such a one as is at the time of the choise, honest and holy, but suche a one as had led hir whole life in all good works, and with commendation, how much more is that to be obserued in the mini∣ster or byshop of the Church, that he be not only at the time of his choise, but all other times before such a one, as had lyued without any notable, and open offence of those, amongst whome he had hys conuersation.

Io. Whitgifte.

It is not such a commaundement as must of necessitie be perpetually kepte, and* 1.4 made a generall rule for euer: for it perteyneth to the iudiciall law which is not per∣petuall (*) 1.5 as I haue before proued. Moreouer why should this precept rather be per∣petuall, than that which goeth before, that no straunger vncircumcised in hart, and vncir∣cumcised in flesh should enter into the sanctuarie? or than that which followeth, that the Priests when they enter in at the gates, must be elothed with white linnen. &c: Do not the circumstances of the place best declare the meaning of it? The like also is to be saide to that example. 2. Regum. 23.

The place of S. Paule. 1. Tim. 3. is vntruly by you alleadged, and corruptly tran∣slated:* 1.6 for the words of the Apostle be not as you report them: and being tried let them ex∣ecute their functions, as long as they remayne blamelesse: But thus the Apostle saith and let them first be proued, then let them minister being blamelesse: the gréek word is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, if in triall they be founde blamelesse, then let them minister. For triall may be had whether they be blamelesse or no, but not whether they will so remayne. Moreouer the Apostle in that place speaketh of Deacōs, and not of ministers. I mar∣uell what you meane so manifestly to falsify the words of the scripture, or to what purpose you haue inuented this new translation, except it be to iustify that erroure of the Anabaptists, that the vertue of the word, and of the Sacraments doth depende vpon the good life of the Minister. Certayne it is that you haue neither gréeke, latine, nor English text that doth so translate it. Neyther do〈1 line〉〈1 line〉he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Apostle S. Paule there speake of deposing ministers, or deacons, but of electing 〈◊〉〈◊〉, as it is manifest. I doubt

not, but that a whoremonger after he hath repented him (if other things be correspen∣dent) maye be admitted to the ministerie, euen as well, as Peter after his denyall, was admitted to be an Apostle, or Paule after that he had bene a persecutor. Saint Paule would not, that a Bishop should haue two wyues at once, but he doth not se∣clude him from beyng a Byshop that hath had two wiues: except you will establishe in this place the Papishe bigamie. In like maner he would not haue an whoremo〈1 line〉〈1 line〉∣ger, a drunkard, a couetous person to be chosen a Bishop: yet doth he not seclude from that function such, as haue bene guiltie of these crimes (and now of godly conuersati∣on) for their former offences: for then shoulde he deale otherwise with them, than he himselfe was dealt with: neither haue you any example in the new testament of any deposed from their ministerie, though they were found in many things guiltie. Christ knewe that Iudas was a traitor, yet did he not depose him from his Apostleship: he knew that the Scribes and Phariseis were criminous in diuers pointes, yet dyd he wil them to be taken, and heard as gods ministers when he said in cat〈1 line〉〈1 line〉edra Mosis sedent Scribae. &c. the Scribes and Phariseis sit in Moses seate. &c. Mat. 23. And S. Paule knewe* 1.7 ofdiuers wicked and vngodly preachers in the Church of Philippi, yet did he not will their ministerie to be taken from them, but shewed himselfe to be very glad for their* 1.8 labour and trauell taken in preaching the Gospell. Phi. 1.

True it is, that Idolatrie is an horrible and great sinne, yet doth repentance stretch* 1.9 vnto it, which so altereth and changeth a man through the mercy of God, be he neuer so defiled, that it maketh him pure and cleane: and shall we seclude him from mini∣string vnto God, that is pure in the sight of God? or shall we not thinke him to be a méete minister in the visible Churche, that is a member of the vnuisible, and electe Church? In the olde law there were many things that defiled the body, and made the man for a time vncleane, but now all such things are cleane to those that be cleane. In* 1.10 like maner there were then certaine crimes pertaining to the minde, which could not be expiated but by corporall punishment, but repentance is a medicine for all, and the greatest Idolater truely repenting, may become a more zealous preacher, thā he that in the sight of the world, neuer committed the least offence.

S. Paule in the choise of widdowes doth not require such a one as hath led hir whele lyfe in all good workes: for how could that be at that time, when they had but in one part of their life knowne Christ, and professed the Gospell, being therevnto conuerted by the Apostles: but his meaning is, that such be chosen, as were knowne to haue bene dili∣gent in all good workes, that is, to haue béen liberall & beneficiall towardes the poore, for so doth M. Caluine interpret it: if you would haue none chosen to be ministers, but suche as haue all their lyfe time béen blamelesse, I thinke you are like to haue but a few, and more like to refuse such as be verie méete and fit for that functiō. But as the Apostle would not haue any admitted to the ministerie vpon a sudden tryall or con∣uersion, so doth he not appoynt for the same, the whole former time of mannes lyfe, but a reasonable and sufficient time, suche as may suffice for the tryall of a man in such matters.

Notes

• * 1.1

  2. Cha. 23.
• * 1.2

  1. Tim. 3.
• (a) 1.3

  S Paule his words and mea∣ning falsisyed.
• * 1.4

  The place 44. Ezechi. touching I∣dolatrous sa∣crificers is not perpetuall
• (*) 1.5

  Ira. 2. cap. 6. diuis. 5. Ezech. 44.
• * 1.6

  The corrupte dealing of T. C. 1. Tim 3.
• * 1.7

  Math. 23.
• * 1.8

  Phil. 1.
• * 1.9

  Repentance stretcheth to Idolatrie.
• * 1.10

  Tit. 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉.