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. 43. Sect 2.

The ordinarie and continuall functions of the Churche are also deuided into two partes, for eyther they are they that gouerne or take charge of the whole Churche, as are those, which are cal∣led Elders, or they which take charge of one parte of the Churche (whiche is the poore of euery Churche) as are those which are called Deacons. Those agayne that be called Presbyteri, which we tearme Elders of the Churche, and haue to doe with the whole Churche, are eyther those, whiche teache and preache the worde of God, and gouerne too, or else whiche gouerne onely, and do not teache or preache. Of the first kinde are Pastors, and Doctors. Or the second are those, which are called by the common name of Elders, or auncientes. Of all this ordinarie function I shall haue occasion to speake, and of euery one shall appeare that (which I haue sayde before) that they are no vncertayne and vndefinite ministeries, but suche as are limitted vnto a certayne Churche and congregation. And first of all, for the Pastor or Bishop, whiche is heere mentioned, whiche name soéuer we consider of them, they doe foorthwith, assoone as they are once eyther spoken, or thought of, imply and inferre a certayne and definite ch••rge, beeing as the Logitians terme them, actuall relatiues. For what shepheard can there be, vnlesse he haue a flocke? and howe can he be a watcheman, vnlesse he haue some citie to looke vnto? Or howe can a man be a master, vnlesse he haue a seruaunt? or a father vnlesse he haue a childe? Nowe if you will saye that they haue a charge, and they haue flocks, and cities to attende and watche vpon, for a whole shire, or prouince, or realme, are their flockes, and their Cities, and their charges.

Io. Whitgifte.

This diuision also is of your owne inuenting: neyther haue you any mention of Seniors, (as you call them) or of Deacons in that fourth Chapter to the Ephesi. whiche you would haue to be so perfecte a rulè of ecclesiasticall functions. As for Pastors and Doctors, you knowe that diuers bothe auncient and late writers, as namely Hierome, Augustine, Chrysostome, Musculus, and Bucer, &c. do confounde them, and the reason that Hieroine vseth can not be well denyed, because the A∣postle sayth not as he dyd before of the other: alios Pastores, alios Doctores, some Pastors,* 1.1 and other some Doctors, but he ioyneth them togither, and sayth: alios Pastores & Doctores, some Pastors and Doctors. M〈1 line〉〈1 line〉reouer I sée not howe you can iustifie your di∣uision of Seniors by the worde of God, as I shall further declare in that place, where* 1.2 you more largely speake of them: In the meane time, I sée no reason why your vnpreaching and vnministring Seniors, shoulde haue any perpetuitie in the Churche, more than Apostles, for the cause that I haue before alleadged: neyther haue you yet proued, that the Deacons office is onely to prouide for the poore: you haue examples to the contrarie, as I haue declared in my Answere. To be shorte, I vnderstande not howe you can make Doctors, gouernours of any seuerall parishes and Churches, except you will make them Pastors.

But bicause you onely speake héere, and proue nothing, I will differre a further answere, vnti〈1 line〉〈1 line〉l I heare more sounde argumentes.

You saye, a shepheard can not be, vnlesse he haue a flocke. &c. all which is true: but he is also a shepheard that hath mo flockes, and he is a shepheard, that hathe a generall care and ouersight of many shepheards, and many flockes. For he that hathe many flockes, and many shepheards, may haue one master shepheard to sée that all the rest doe their duties, and that the shéepe be kepte in good order. And thoughe euery seuerall Citie haue seuerall watchemen whiche watche by course, yet maye there be one that hathe an especiall care ouer all, and is appoynted to see the rest do their duties: So one master maye haue many seruauntes, one father many children. Wherefore if you vse this reason to improue the office of a Bishop, it lacketh mighte: if to proue that a Pastour muste haue a flocke, no man dothe denie it: but if to conclude, that no man maye preache, vnlesse he haue a certayne flocke, there is no sequele at all in it: for first you muste proue that the onely office of a Pastor is nowe remayning in the Churche, and that no man can be minister of the words and Sacraments, except he be a Pastor of some certayne flocke, for that doe I con∣stantly denie.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Eph. 4.
• * 1.2

  Tract. 17.