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.

Chapter. 5. the. 2. Diuision.

T. C. Pag. 33. Sect. 1.

So is it also when the question is to choose the Magistrate, Mayre, or Bayliffe, or Consta∣ble of euery towne, whiche things if they haue groundes in ciuill affayres, they haue muche better in Ecclesiasticall. For it is muche more vnreasonable, that there shoulde be thrust vpon me, a go∣uernour, of whome the euerlasting saluation or damnation bothe of my body and soule dothe de∣pende, than him of whome my wealth and commoditie of this lyfe dothe hang. Unlesse those vpon whome he were thrust, were fooles, or madde men, or children, without all discretion of ordering themselues, whiche as I will shewe, can not agree with those, that are the Churche of God, and are to haue a Pastor. For they of the Churche of God, althoughe they be called sheepe in respect of their simplicitie and harmlesnesse, yet are they also for their circumspection wise as serpentes, in the wisedome, especially whiche is to saluation: and howe (a) 1.1 vyle accompte soeuer you will make of them, they are the people of God, and therefore spirituall, and foorthwith those of whome sainct* 1.2 Paule sayth, the spirituall man discerneth all things.

Io. Whitgifte.

The disorder of suche popular elections hathe bin suche, the contentions moued* 1.3 in them so great, the ambition of the persons standing in election so notorious, the partiall affection of the people inclining to their kinsfolkes, friendes, or landlords. &c. so vntollerable, to be short, the lacke of iudgement & discretion in many of them so ap∣parant, that that maner of electing vpon great cōsiderations hath bin altred in diuers places, & desired to be altered in others also, by al those that are wise & discrete, & that wishe for quietnesse & good gouernment. Neither is it true, that the election of those officers which you name, is euery where in the people. In the best ordered Cities

and townes it is otherwise: and experience dothe teache, that those offices whiche are in the Princes bestowing, and some other to whome she committeth the same, are the best bestowed, and vpon the moste worthyest persons, as Bishoprikes, the offices of Iudges, Iustices. &c.

In ecclesiasticall affayres, it is muche méeter, that suche as haue knowledge, zeale, and care for the people, shoulde place ouer them a méete and fitte Pastor, than that the choyse of him should be committed to the multitude, whiche is not onely for the moste parte ignorant, but carelesse in suche matters, yea and oftentimes euill dis∣posed, and commonly led by affection, as friendship, hatred, feare. &c.

I knowe that Christian men are not called sheepe bycause they be voyde of rea∣son:* 1.4 For as Chrysostome saythe, Oues sunt, sed rationales, They are sheepe, but suche as are indued with reason. And god dothe at one tyme or other (if they be his) open hys truthe vnto them, and indueth them with the spirite of discerning betwixte true and false doctrine, in those things that doe pertayne to their saluation. But bicause God dothe in his good time open his truthe vnto them, are they therfore alwayes voyde of affection and errour? or bicause some haue this spirite of discretion, is it therefore common to all, or to the moste parte? In déede if you speake of the inuisible Church, which is onely of the electe, then is it something that you say: but if you speake of the visible Churche, whiche is a mixture of good and euill, and wherein the euill are the greater number, then hath your saying no probabilitie in it. And why may not the Pope as well reason of this place. 1. Cor. 2. that he can not erre in matters of reli∣gion,* 1.5 as you may, that Parishes can not be deceyued in electing their pastors? for he dothe alleage this texte for himselfe to the same purpose: but the meaning of the Apostle is this: that he onely whiche is ruled and gouerned by the spirite of God, hath the true knowledge of the mysteries of God, and is able to discerne the truthe from falshood. You can no more proue therefore, by this sentence, that the Parishes can not erre in choosing their Pastors, than the Pope may doe that himselfe, generall Councels, and the Churche can not erre: and surely the more I consider the matter, the more I maruell what your meaning is in alleaging this texts.

Notes

• (a) 1.1

  No man 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉∣keth vi〈1 line〉〈1 line〉e a〈1 line〉〈1 line〉oūt of the people of God: but you partly of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, partly of popular affection, would haue it seeme so, thereby to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hatred agaynst vs.
• * 1.2

  1. Cor. 2.
• * 1.3

  Elections by the multitu••e are for y^e most parte tumul∣tuous.
• * 1.4

  Christiā men 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉eepe.
• * 1.5

  Scripture vn aptly alleaged by T. C.