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. 26. Sect. 2. 3 & Pag. 27. Sect. 1.

If I should stand with you, whether Peter his forswearing that he knew not Christ, were a greater fault then to goe from the Gospell to Idolatrie, and therin, for some long space to continue, as the Leuites did, I should trouble you. For if a man sodenly and at a pushe for feare, and to saue his lyfe, say and sweare he is no Christian, and the same day repent him of his fault, although it be a great and hainous crime, yet it seemeth not to be so great, as his is, which not onely denyeth Christ in wordes, but doth it also in decdes, and worshippeth Antichrist, and continueth in that worship, not a day, but monethes, and yeares.

But I will answere you, that euen as our sauiour Christ called S. Paule in the heate of hys persecution, and when he was a blasphemer vnto the Apostleship, so he hauing the lawe in his owne handes, and making no lawes for himselfe, but for vs, mighte call S. Peter also to that function, which had thrice denyed him.

But as it is not lawfull for vs, to follow the example of Christ in calling of Paule, by admitting those which are new conuerted, hauing a contrary precepte giuen, that no (*) new plant, or greene* 1.1 Christian, should be taken to y^e Ministerie: So is it not lawfull also, to follow that example of our Sauiour Christ, the contrarie beyng commaunded, as I haue before alleaged. For albeit the exam∣ples of our Sauiour Christ be to be followed of vs, yet if there be commaundtmentes generall to the contrarie, then we must know, that it is our partes to walke in the broade and beaten way, as it were the common caussie of the commaundement, rather than an outpath of the example.

Io. Whitgifte.

Peter hauing before bragged of his constancie, lately admonished by his Maister Christ, almost euē in y^e presence of his master, wittingly & willingly denyed, not once, but thrice, yea bitterly forswore him: which fault no doubt was as gréeuous as any kind of Idolatrie: and therfore if you stand with me in that matter neuer so long, you can not greatly trouble me. for the circumstances beyng considered, there is nothing to ex∣euse Peters denyall.

As Christ in the heate of Paules persecution, dyd choose him to be an Apostle, and called Peter also to that function, after he had thrice denyed him, euen so doth he still conti∣nue his mercie, neither is it one whit streightened: and these examples hath he set be∣fore vs that we should at no time dispaire of his mercy and goodnesse: so saith S. Paule 1. Tim. 1. Verùm ideò misericordiam consecutus sum. &c. Notwithstanding, for this cause was I* 1.2 receiued to mercie, that Iesus Christ should first shewe on me al long suffering, vnto the ex∣ample of them, which shall in time to come beleeue in him vnto eternall lyfe.

Although these examples of our sauiour Christ are not at all times, & in al poyntes to be followed, yet doe they sufficiently declare, that no man for any crime is to be se∣cluded from any lawfull vocation, if he repent him and become a new man. And there be no generall commaundements contrarie herevnto, but this doctrine is consonant to the whole course of the Gospell.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1. Tim. 3.
• * 1.2

  1. Tim. 1.