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.

Io. Whitgifte.

Where do those that write the Centuries suspecte that Canon? why note you not the place? there is not one worde tending to that end, in that place where they speake of this Councell. Neyther as I thinke are you able to shew any suche thing affirmed by them, and it is the first time that euer I either red or heard it doubted, whether thys were a Canon of that councell or no. In the. 4. Cent. col. 435. I find these words: variant ab 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ac consuetudine, mirum qua veritate, constitutiones Concilij Laodiceni, quae ordinationes iudicio multitudinis fieri probibuerunt. The constitutions of the Councel of Laodicea, which forbad* 1.1 the ordeyning (of ministers) to be done by the iudgement of the multitude, do varie from this custome (of electing by the people) it is maruel by what truth. But no mā can hereof gather that they doubt whether this Canon be a bastard or no. Only they doubt whether this decrée was made according to the truth. The general Councel at Cōstantinople, which is called Synodus. 6. did both allow this councell, and ratifye it.

It is not greatly materiall at what time this Councell was holden: Neyther dothe it follow that bycause this decrée was now made against such elections of the people, therefore the people had before this time in al places interest, in electing of ministers: for it may be that some claimed this interest, and moued the people to contende for it then, as you do now: and therefore the Synode might vpon that occasiō make this de∣termination: as the like might be made at this time in this Churche of Englande, a∣gainst such parishes as take vpon them the election of their Pastors, as you before af∣firmed* 1.2 some to do: and yet we could not therevpon truly conclude, that before the time of this prohibition the election of ministers was either generally, or orderly cō∣mitted to the people in this Church of England.

I haue not in any place said that this order of choosing the minister by the voyces of the Church was but in the Apostles time, and during the time of persecution, neither yet, that they could clayme it of dutie in either of these times, or that it was then generall, and in all places: for I haue before shewed the contrary.

And where you thinke that I will not say the Churche was vnder persecution in Constan∣tines* 1.3 time (though it be not materiall) yet must I tell you that I thinke it was: for euē then Maxentius and Licinius did persecute, and continued in persecuting by the space of. 13. yeares after Constan. began his reygne: and it is saide of Licinius that he killed many thousandes of Christians.

I haue not at any time wrung M. Caluines words to any other sense, than he hym∣selfe hath written them: if it be otherwise, make it knewne: for I haue delt playnely and set downe his words, so haue not you. In his Institutions cap. 8. Sect. 63. thus he writeth of this Councell: Est quidem & illud fateor. &c. And surely I confesse, that it was* 1.4 vpon great reason decreed in the Councell of Laodicea, that the election shoulde not be permitted to the multitude: for it scarcely at any time happeneth that so many heads shuld with one consente determine any thing: And that saying is almost true, that the vnstable multitude is deuided into contrary factions. &c. Then doth he tell what order was ob∣serued in elections: firste the Cleargy only did choose, then did they offer him whome they had chosen, to the magistrate, or to the Senate, and chiefe rulers, who after deli∣beration, did confirme the election, if they liked of it: if not, then did they choose another whome they thought to be more méete. In the ende, the matter was propounded to the multitude, rather to know their desire, and require their testimonie, than to gyue them any interest either of choosing or refusing: this is the summe of Caluines mea∣ning, and this he saith, was the meaning of that Councell: which I say is in 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ffect, to take away the election from the people.

Your note in the margent must be corrected, for Caluine hath no suche thing vpon the. 16. of the Acts: but the like he hath vpō the. 14. howbeit the words of the Councel be playne, quòd non sit permittendum turbis electiones eorum facere, qui sunt ad sacer dotium proue∣bendi:* 1.5 That it ought not to be permitted vnto the multitude, to make elections of them, which should be preferred to the ministerie. And there can be no doubt of the meaning of the Councell, bycause it appeareth in the. 12. Canon that they would haue Byshops preferred to ecclesiasticall dignitie, by the iudgement of the Metropolitane and other* 1.6 Byshops.

Libertie and tyrannie be too common in your mouth. It is no tyranny to restraine the people from that libertie that is hurtfull to themselues, and must of necessitie ingen∣der contentions, tumults, and confusion.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cent. 4.
• * 1.2

  Page. 3.
• * 1.3

  The Church in persecution in Constan∣tines time.
• * 1.4

  Caluine of the Councell of Laodicea.
• * 1.5

  Concil. Laodi∣cen. Can. 13.
• * 1.6

  Can. 12.