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. 37. Sect. 3.

But if Councels be of so great authoritie to decide this controuersie, thē the most famous Coun∣cell of Nice wil strike a great stroke with you, which in an Epistl that it writeth vnto the Church of Egipt (as Theodoret maketh mention) speaketh thus. It is meete that (a) 1.1 you should haue po∣wer both to choose any man, and to giue their names which are worthy to be amongst the Cleargy, and to do all things absolutely according to the law and decrees of the Church, and if it happen any to dye in the Church, then that those which were last taken to be promoted to the honoure of him that is dead, with this condition, if they be worthy, and the people choose them, the Byshop of the citie of Alexandria togither giuing his consent and appoynting him.

Io. Whitgifte.

The Councell in that epistle, first declareth what was done with Arius: then what became of Melitius, how he was deposed from his Bishoprike, and yet suffered to re∣mayne in his owne citie, but to haue no authoritie of choosing or ordeyning ministers either in the prouince, or in any other citie. After it sheweth that such as were ordey∣ned and made ministers, or promoted by him, shoulde kéepe their ministerie and ho∣noure, but not haue any authoritie in elections, or in preferring of any to any degrée* 1.2 of ministerie, wherevpon it by and by followeth, qui verò Dei gratia. &c. but those

that by the grace of God and your prayers, haue not bin factious and scismaticall, but kept themselues vndefyled in the Catholike and Apostolike Church, it is meete that they should haue authoritie and power, both to choose any man, and to giue their names whiche are worthy to be of the Cleargy: And to do all things according to the lawes and decrees of the Church. Their meaning is euident, that suche only of the Cleargy shoulde haue to do in electing or preferring any to the ministerie, whiche haue not bin schismaticall and factious in the time of heresie: for these words of the Councel are not spokē of the peo∣ple, but of the Cleargie, as the circumstance of the place doth declare: which thing Ia∣cobus Grinaeus noteth in the margēt, in these words: Iura Clericorum qui ortbodoxi man∣serunt. That which followeth and if it happen any to dye in the Church. &c. dothe argue that the people had a consent in those Churches, according to the orders whereof the Councel would haue them to procéede: but it maketh no new law for it, neyther doth it decrée any thing as concerning it. And it is euident that their order herein was not generall, but particular to those Churches: for it followeth after in the same epistle,* 1.3 Haec propriè & peculiariter ad Aegyptum, atque sanctissimam Alexandrinam ecclesiam pertinent. So that it is manifest that the meaning of the Councel was not to bind all Churches to this order. But al this laboure of yours is lost, for you go about to proue that which no man denieth.

Notes

• (a) 1.1

  This is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Clearg〈1 line〉〈1 line〉, not of the peo∣ple.
• * 1.2

  The. li. 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉. cap. 9.
• * 1.3

  This order was peculiar to Egypt and Alexandria.