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.

Chap. 8. the second Diuision.

2 Touching the seconde, that is for the diuersities of elections afterwarde vsed in* 1.1 the Churche, and that the people were not alwayes admitted to the same, I referre you to that whiche hath ben spoken before, out of Eusebius and Zuinglius, of the A∣postles appoynting of Iames to bée Bishoppe of Hierusalem: of Cypri lib. 1. Epist. 4. where he plainly confesseth, that, electing by the people was not then generall, in that he sayeth, Et fe〈1 line〉〈1 line〉è per prouincias vniuersas tenetur, and dothe the contrary himselfe in choosing one Aurelius without the consent of the people Lib. 2. Epist 5. Lykewise of the 18. Can. of the Councell of Ancyrane. 18. Canon of the Councell of Antioche. 12. and 13. Can. Con. Lao diceni: All which Canons and Councels I haue alleadged before.

In the fyrste of the Canons attributed to the Apostles, it is decréed that a Bi∣shoppe shoulde be ordeyned of two or thrée Bishoppes: and the Gréeke woorde is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

In the seconde of the same Canons, the ordeinyng of Priestes, Deacons, and o∣ther clearks is cōmitted to the Bishop alone, & the gréeke word there is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉* 1.2 lykewise.

In the. 35. or. 36. of the same Canons, it plainly appeareth, that Bishops were cho∣sen* 1.3 without the consent of the people.

In the. 4. Canon of the Councell of Nice, the election of Bishops is appoynted on∣ly* 1.4 to Bishops.

It appeareth plainly in the. 19. ca. Con. Anti〈1 line〉〈1 line〉cheni, that only the Metropolitane and o∣ther ministers had interest in the ordeinnig and apointing of Byshops.

It is manyfest by Euseb. lib. 6. cap. 8. and 23. that Origen was admitted and ordeined* 1.5 minister only by Bishops.

Hierome in his Epistle ad Nepotianum, in the wordes before recited, signifyeth that the election of Priestes doth p〈1 line〉〈1 line〉rteyne to the Bishop.

Gratian distinct. 62. hath this Canon made by Leo who was Bishop of Rome. Nul∣la ratio s〈1 line〉〈1 line〉it. &c. No reason permitteth that they should be accompted amōgst the Bishops, which are neither chosen of the Clearks, nor desired of the people, nor consecrated of the Bishops of that prouince, with the iudgement and allowance of the Metropolitane. The Glosse expounding what this is to be desired of the people, saythe, that it is to giue te∣stimonie vnto them. And no man denieth but that suche as are to be admitted into the ministerie, ought to haue a testimonie of their lyfe & conuersation, and that it should be lawfull for any man to except againste them, if there be iuste cause: but yet the iudgement not to rest in the people.

And distinct. 6〈1 line〉〈1 line〉. there is this lawe, Laici nullo modo se debent ins〈1 line〉〈1 line〉rere electioni, The laye* 1.6 people ought by no meanes to thruste themselues into the election, or to meddle with the election. There are certain Canons collected out of the gréek Synodes by Martin Bra∣caren. Episco. and they are to be founde to. Conci. 2. the firste of the Canons is this, the* 1.7 whiche Gratian also hath distinct. 63. Non licet populo. &c. It is not lawfull for the peo∣ple, to make the election of them which are preferred to priesthoode: but it is in the iudge∣ment of the Bishops, that they should proue him, which is to be ordeined, whether he bee instructed in the word, and in faith, and in spirituall conuersation. The same may be also proued by the 2. and. 3. Canons folowing

In the same distinc. there is this Canon taken oute of the. 8. generall Councell. Consecrationes & promotiones. &c. This holie and generall Councell agreeyng with former Councels, hath decreed and enacted, that the consecrations and promotions of Bishops should be made by the election of the Cleargie, and by the decree and Colledge of the Bishops.

Theodoret lib. 4. cap. 5. sayth, that when Auxentius béeing an Arian, was depriued* 1.8 of the Bishoprike of Millain, Valentinian the Emperour called together the Bishops, and willed them to place such a one in that bishoprike, as he might safely commit himself vnto. &c. and when as they desyred the Emperour that he himself would choose one whome hée thought méete, the Emperour tolde them agayne, that it were much bet∣ter for them to elect one, bycause they were best able to iudge of his metenesse. And al∣though the people, béeing diuided tumultuously requested the Bishops, some for one, some for an other, and at the length all desired to haue Ambrose, yet it maye eui∣dently appeare, that the interest of the election, was in the Bishops, and the con∣firmation and allowyng of the same in the Emperoure. And in that the Bishoppes woulde haue committed the whole matter to the Emperour, it may appeare, that it greatly skilleth not who doo choose, so that suche be chosen as be fit for the place.

In the. 63. distinct. of Gratian, it is also to be séene, that sometyme the election* 1.9 and allowing of Bishops was wholly giuen to the Emperour, as we may reade in the decrée of Adrian the Pope there mentioned: and in the decrée of Leo the first, where he sheweth, howe that the dissentions, heresies, and schismes that were in the Churche, was the cause why that both the election of the Romain Bishop, and of other also was committed to the Emperour.

Whereby it is euident, thal the people haue not at all tymes, nor in all places had interest in the elections of ministers. I knowe that Gratian in the same distinc∣tion sayth as muche in the behalfe of the people, but therby we maye gather, that this election hath bene variable, and from tyme to tyme vsed according to the place, tyme, and persons. For further proofe hereof, I coulde recite the varietie that nowe is, and heretofore also hath bene, euen in reformed Churches, but to auoyd te∣diousnesse, I referre that to euery mans owne searche.

This is moste certaine, that the forme prescribed in the second Admonition, and in this Replie of T. C. also, if it be considered, will appeare to haue in it nihil Apo∣stolicum, nothing Apostolicall, but to differ as muche from any forme that was then v∣sed, as this doth that we retaine in the Churche of England at this day, and a great deale more.

Notes

• * 1.1

  That the people were not always admitted to the election of ministers. Eusebius. Zuinglius. Cyp〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ian. Concil. Ancy. Antiochen. Laodicen. Can. Apost. 1.
• * 1.2

  Can. 2.
• * 1.3

  Can. 35. 36.
• * 1.4

  Cōcil Nicanū. Can. 4 Antioch. 19.
• * 1.5

  Eus. li. 6. ca. 8. 23. Hieronymus Epist. ad Ne∣potian. Distinct. 62. Nulla.
• * 1.6

  Distinct. 63. Laici.
• * 1.7

  Tom. 2. Con.
• * 1.8

  Theod. lib. 4. cap. 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉.
• * 1.9

  Distinct. 6〈1 line〉〈1 line〉.