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.

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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.
Author
Whitgift, John, 1530?-1604.
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Printed at London :: By Henry Binneman, for Humfrey Toye,
Anno. 1574.
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Subject terms
Cartwright, Thomas, 1535-1603. -- Replye to an answere made of M. Doctor Whitgifte -- Controversial literature -- Early works to 1800.
Church of England -- Apologetic works -- Early works to 1800.
Episcopacy -- Early works to 1800.
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"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." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A15130.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 8, 2024.

Pages

Of Apostles, Euangelistes, and Prophets.

Chap. 3. the. 1. Diuision.
The Admonition.

The ninth. Then euery pastor (x) 1.1 had his flocke.

Ansvvere to the Admonition. Pag. 50. Sect. 2.

To proue this you alleage the. 20. of the Acts, the. 4. to the Ephe. the first to Titus, the. 5. chapter of the. 1. of Peter: which places de∣clare

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that there were Pastors whiche had flockes: but they proue not that euery Pastor had a flocke: neuerthelesse howe so euer you proue it, true it is that if he be a Pastor, he must haue a certain flock, for therein doth a Pastor differ from the rest of the degrees of mini∣sters in Christes Churche, mentioned in the fourth chapter to the E∣phes. But you muste learne, that there bee not onely Pastors in the Churche, but also Apostles, Prophetes, Euangelistes, Doctors, Ephes. 4. 1. Cor. 12. who all are called ministers, and haue their place in the Churche of Christe, as it shall be proued if you denie it.

T. C. Pag. 45. Sect. 1.

This passeth all the diuinitie that euer I redde, that there are nowe Apostles, and Euange∣listes, and Prophetes. You shall assuredly doe maruels, if you proue that, as you saye you wil, if any denie it: I denye it, proue you it.

Io. Whitgifte.* 1.2

Then haue you not redde muche diuinitie: for if it be true that the Apostle Saincte Paule in the fourth to the Ephesians dothe make a perfecte platforme of a Churche, and a full rehersall of the offices therein conteyned (as you say he dothe) then can I not vnderstande howe you can make those offices rather temporall, than the office of the Pastors and Doctors. And forasmuche as you so greatly contemne authori∣tie, and woulde haue all thinges proued by Scripture, lette mée heare one worde of the same, that dothe but insinuate these offices to be temporall. The place it selfe séemeth to importe a continuance of these functions, vntill the comming of* 1.3 Christe. For he sayeth: He therfore gaue some to be Apostles, and some Prophetes, and some Euangelistes, and some Pastors and Teachers, for the gatheryng together of the Sainctes, for the woorke of the ministerie. &c. vntill wee all meete together in the v∣nitie of faithe and knowledge of the sonne of God vnto a perfecte man, and vnto the measure of the age and fulnesse of Christe. &c. I am perswaded that you can not shew any lyke place, whiche dothe so playnely importe the abrogatyng of them, as thys* 1.4 dothe make for their continuaunce. I haue besyde that place to the Ephesians, the twelfth of the firste to the Corinth. and the. 14. where he speaketh of Prophets, as of perpetuall ministers in the Churche of Christe.

I knowe that there were certayne thynges in the Apostles, whiche were pro∣per vnto themselues, as theyr callyng, whyche was immediatly from God, their commission to goe into the whole worlde, the power of woorkyng miracles, to bée witnesses of the Resurrection and of the Ascention. &c. but to preache the woorde of God in places where néede requireth, (though the same be not peculiarly commit∣ted to them) or to gouerne Churches alreadie planted, I sée no cause why it shoulde not be perpetuall.* 1.5

Lykewise the office of the Euangelist, if it be taken for the writing of the gospell, then it is ceased. But if it be taken for preaching to the people playnely and simply, as (a) 1.6 Bullinger thinketh: or generally, for preaching the gospell: as (b) 1.7 Musculus suppo∣seth, in whiche sense also Paule sayde to Timothie. 2. Timo. 4. doo the worke of an Euangelist: Or for preaching more feruently and zealously than other, as (c) 1.8 Bucer say∣eth: then I see no cause at all why it may not still remaine in the Church.

Moreouer Prophetes, if they be taken for suche as haue the gifte of foreshe∣wyng things to come, then be they not in all tymes of the Churche: but if they be* 1.9 suche as Saincte Paule speaketh of. 1. Corin. 14. such (I saye) as haue an especiall gyfte in interpretyng the Scriptures, whether it bée in expoundyng the myste∣ries thereof to the learned, or in declaryng the true sense thereof to the people: I vnderstande not why it is not as perpetuall as the Pastor or Doctor.

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Thus you sée that I haue bothe Scripture and reason on my syde: and to the ende you maye perceyue that I am not destitute of the consent also of learned* 1.10 men in thys matter, I will sette downe the opinions of one or two. Ambrose vpon these wordes Ad Ephes. 4. Et ipse dedit quosdam quidem Apostolos. &c. sayeth thus: The Apostles are Bishops: Prophets be interpreters of the Scriptures, althoughe in the begin∣ning there were Prophetes, as Agabus, and the foure Virgins Prophetesses, as it is in the Actes of the Apostles. &c. yet nowe interpreters bee called Prophets, Euangelistes bee* 1.11 Deacons, as Philip: for althoughe they bee no Priestes, yet maye they preache the Go∣spell without a chaire, as both Stephanus and Philippe before named. Bucer vppon the* 1.12 same place sayth that there bée Euangelistes nowe, and you your selfe fol. 42. confesse, that Hus, Ierome of Prage, Luther, Zuinglius. &c. were Euangelistes. Peter Martyr in his* 1.13 Commentaries vpon the. 12. to the Romaines sayth, that the Apostle there describeth those functions and giftes, whyche are at all tymes necessarie for the Churche: And in that place the Apostle mentioneth Prophecying. M. Caluine in his Institut.* 1.14 cap. 8. doth confesse, that God hath stirred vp Apostles or Euangelistes since that tyme of the Primitiue Churche, and that hee hathe doone so lykewyse euen nowe in thys tyme.

M. Bullinger vpon the place of the fourth to the Ephe. sayeth, that the woordes* 1.15 bee confounded, and that an Apostle is also called a Prophete: a Doctor, an Euange∣liste, a minister, and a Bishoppe: and a Bishoppe, an Euangeliste, and a Prophete. &c. To bée shorte, it is thus written in the Confession of the Churches in Heluetia,* 1.16 The ministers of the newe Testament bee called by sundrie names: for they are called Apostles, Prophetes, Euangelistes, Byshoppes. &c. And (speakyng of Prophetes) it sayeth: The Prophetes in tyme paste, foreseeyng thynges to come, were called Seers, who were expounders of the Scriptures also, as some bee euen nowe a dayes. Euan∣gelistes were wryters of the historie of the Gospell, and Preachers also of the gladde tydings of Christe his Gospell: As Paule bidde Timothie doe the woorke of an Euan∣geliste. &c. So that to saye, that there is in the Churche Apostles, Prophetes, and E∣uangelistes in suche sense as I haue declared, is no straunge diuinitie, to suche as bée diuines in déede. But let vs heare your reasons.

Chap. 3. the. 2. Diuision.
T. C. Page. 45. Sect. 1. 2. 3. 4.

And that you maye haue some thyng to doe more, than peraduenture you thoughte of, when you wrote these woordes, I will shewe my reasons, why I thinke there oughte to be none, nor can be none, vnlesse they haue wonderfull and extraordinarie callings. It must first be vnderstan∣ded that the signification of this worde Apostle, when it is properly taken, extendeth it selfe not only to all the ministers of God, beeing sente of God, but to the Embassador of any Prince or no∣ble man, or that is sente of any publike authoritie, and is vsed of the Scripture by the trope of Synecdoche for the twelue, that our Sauior Christ appointed to go thoroughout all the worlde, to preache the Gospell, vnto the which number was added Saint Paule, and as some thinke Bar∣nabas, whiche are seuered from all other ministers of the Gospell by these notes.

First, that they were immediatly called of God, as S. Paule to the Galathians, proueth him* 1.17 selfe to be an Apostle, bycause he was not appoynted by men.

Then that they sawe Christe, whiche argument Saincte Paule vseth in the. 9. 1. Cor. Am I not an Apostle? haue I not seene Christe?

Thirdly, that these had the field of the whole world to tyll, whereas other are restrained more particularly, as to a certaine plough lande, wherin they should occupie themselues: wherevpon it followeth, that as we conclude against the Pope truly, that he can be no successour of the Apostles, not only bicause he neyther teacheth, nor doth as they did, but bicause the Apostles haue no succes∣sours, neyther any can succeede into the office of an Apostle: so may we lykewyse conclude against those that woulde haue the Apostles now a dayes, that there can be none, bycause there is none, vnto whome all these three notes doe agree: as that he is both sent of God immediately, or that he hath seene Christe, or that he is sent into all the worlde.

Io. Whitgifte.

M. Caluine vpon the sixtéenth to the Romaines sayeth, that this woorde Apostle, in proper and vsuall signification, dothe onely comprehende that firste order whyche

Page 231

Chryste in the beginning did appoynt in his twelue disciples, whiche is directly con trarie to your saying.

I graunt that in suche respectes as you now put downe, there bée no Apostles: although Matthias was not immediatly called by God, as it appeareth Actes. 1. and you before haue confessed: neyther can you proue by the Scripture, that Bar∣nabas was so called, but the contrarie rather dothe appeare in the. 11. of the Actes, and yet he was an Apostle. Sainct Paule in the firste to the Corinth. 9. doth not saye that he sawe Christe, to proue that he was an Apostle, but to declare that he was in that respect nothing inferiour to the reste of the Apostles. I haue before declared in what sense I say that ther be Apostles in the church: neyther is it a matter so strange séeing that M. Caluine sayeth as muche in the place before recited: Quanquam non ne∣go, quin Apostolos postea quoque, vel saltem eorum loco Euangelistas interdùm excitarit Deus, vt* 1.18 nostro tempore factum est, Although I doe not denye, but that God hath afterwardes also stirred vp Apostles, or at the least Euangelists in steade of them, as it is doone in oure dayes.

Chap. 3. the. 3. Diuision.
T. C. Page. 45. Sect.. 5.

And although some Ecclesiasticall wryters doe call sometymes good ministers successors of the Apostles, yet that is to be vnderstanded bicause they propounde the same doctrine that they did, not bycause they succeeded into the same kind of function, which they could not do. S. Paule doth vse this word sometimes in his proper and natiue signification, for him that is publikely sent from any to other, as when he speaketh of the brethren that were ioyned with Titus, whiche were sent by the Churches with reliefe to the poore Church in Ierusalem and Inry, and where he calleth Epaphroditus an Apostle. But that is with addition and not simply, as in the first place he calleth the brethren the Apostles of the Churches, that is, not the Apostles of all Churches, or sente to all* 1.19 Churches, but the Apostles which certayne Churches sent with the reliefe to other certaine chur∣ches: and Epaphroditus he calleth not an Apostle simply, but the Apostle of the Philippians, that* 1.20 is, which the Philippians sent with reliefe to Paule, being in prison at Rome, as it appeareth in the same epistle.

Io. Whitgifte.

The writers of ye Magdelb. historie cal Epaphroditus an Apostle in the same sense* 1.21 that they cal Paule, and the rest of the Apostles: & M. Caluine thinketh the name of an* 1.22 Apostle to be taken in that place generally, pro quolibet Euangelista: for any preacher of the gospell. Ambrose saith: erat eorum Apostolus à Paulo factus, dum illum ad exhortationem* 1.23 eorum mittebat ad eos: he was made their Apostle of Paule, when as at their request he sente him vnto them. And Theodoret in plaine wordes doth call him an Apostle, bycause he* 1.24 was byshop of the Philippians. If these say true, as no doubt they do, thē is not Epa∣phroditus called an Apostle only in that signification, that you say he was. In that he* 1.25 calleth them Apostles with an addition of the Churches, not of all Churches, he con∣firmeth my saying, for it argueth that there may be Apostles though they haue com∣mission but for one kingdome or prouince only, as Epaphroditus was the Apostle of the churches of the Philippians, bycause he was sent vnto them to preach. Thus doth both Ambrose, Chrysostome, Theodoret, Caluine, and others write.

Chap. 3. the fourth Diuision.
T. C. Pag. 46. Sect. 1.

And as for Andronicus and Iunius whiche are by you recited(*) 1.26 belike to proue that we may haue more Apostles, bycause it is said of S. Paule that they were famous and notable amōgst the* 1.27 Apostles, it cannot be proued by any thing I see there, whether they had any function ecclesiasticall or no. For S. Paule calleth them his kinsfolks, and fellowe prisoners, and dothe not saye that they were hys fellowe labourers: and a man maye be well notable and famouse amongst the Apostles, and well knowne vnto them, whiche is no Apostle. And if the Apostles woulde haue had this order of the Apostles to continue in the Churche, there is no doubt but that they would

Page 232

haue chosen one into Iames his roome, when he was slayn, as they did, when they supplyed the place of Iudas, by choosing Matth〈1 line〉〈1 line〉s, and so euer as they had dyed, the other would haue put other in their places. So it appeareth that this function of the Apostles is ceased.

Io. Whitgifte.

The foresayd authors of the storie called (a) 1.28 Magdelburgica, do also recken these two* 1.29 among the Apostles, euen as they do Paule & Barnabas. (b) 1.30 M. Caluin vpon that place to the Romaines sayth, that the name of an Apostle there doth extende to all those whiche teache not one Churche onely, but many. &c. and séemeth to accompte Andronicus and Iunius such.(c) 1.31 M. Beza in the same place writeth thus: Inter Apostolos. &c. i quorum no∣men inter Apostolos viget, vel qui & ipsi sunt insignes Apostoli, 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ic enim accipitur interdum 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉oc no∣men in genere pro bis, qui Christi nomine funguntur legatione, That is, whose name is famous among the Apostles, or whiche are themselues notable Apostles: for so is this name some∣tyme generally taken for those, which are sent in embassage in the name of Christe. Bul∣linger doth think yt they wer in the number of the. 72. disciples. Peter Martyr vpon that* 1.32 place, They are called notable amongst the Apostles: not bicause they were of the colledge of the twelue Apostles, but bicause (as it is credible) they had spread the Gospell through* 1.33 manie places, and had planted many Churches. And a little after speaking of your in∣terpretation, he sayeth, This sense doth not displease me, if the wordes themselues bee not contrarie thervnto. So that he séemeth to doubte whether the wordes will beare your interpretation or no. Gualter and Bullinger also suppose it not to be vnlykely〈1 line〉〈1 line〉,* 1.34 that they were the first planters of Christian religion at Rome. And I can reade of none that doubteth whether they had any function Ecclesiasticall or no, as you do.

I brought them in before pagina. 47. to proue that some may be chosen to preach the woorde whiche haue no certaine cure, and you to auoyde a direct answere, haue shifted them of to this place, and now you say, that belyke. I bring them in to proue that we may haue more Apostles, which thing in déede they proue manifestly, but I brought them in to declare that a man may be admitted to preach, though he haue no certaine cure, and to that you haue not answered.

There is nothing expressed in Scriptures, whether the Apostles did choose any into the roome of Iames or no: but I am persuaded they did not, neyther was it ne∣cessarie. For who euer sayd, that there muste continually be twelue Apostles, and neyther more nor lesse?

I tolde you before out of M. Caluine, that this worde Apostle, in his proper and v∣suall signification comprehendeth only the twelue Apostles appoynted by Christe. Wherfore in this signification there are nowe no Apostles, neyther was there anye since that tyme: but it signifieth also generally such as preache the Gospel in sundry places, and although they go not through the whole worlde, as the twelue did, yet are they not bounde to any one place certainly. And according to this signification, there both hath be〈1 line〉〈1 line〉e and are Apostles.

Chap. 3. the. 5. Diuision.
T. C. Page. 46. Sect. 2. 3.

You aske further, that if a man shoulde not preache before he haue a pastorall charge, what they will answere vnto Philip and Epaphroditus, wherby your meaning is belike, that although they beno Pastours, yet they may be Euangeli〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ts, whiche goe aboute the countrey here & there. But this office is ceassed in the Churche, as the Apostles is, sauing that sometymes the Lorde doth rayse vp some extraordinarily, for the building vp of the Churches, whyche are falne down, and pulled vp by the foundations, as I haue shewed somwhat before. And that it is ceased, it may appeare by these reasons.

Fyrst, for bicause all those that the Scripture calleth precisely Euangelistes (which are only Philipan〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 Timothie) had their callings confirmed by miracle, and so it is lyke that Titus and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉pollos, and if there were any other, had their vocations after the same maner* 1.35 confirmed, but there is no suche miraculous confirmation nowe, therefore there is no suche vo∣cation.* 1.36

Page 233

Io. Whitgifte.

I haue declared both before by Scripture, reason, & other authoritie, that though the name of an Euangelist bée chaunged, yet the office remayneth. The Scripture no where calleth Tunothie an Euangelist, onely. 2. Ti. 4. S. Paule willeth him to doe* 1.37 the woorke of an Euangelist, whiche is, to preache the Gospell. But of this matter I haue at large spoken in an other place.

It passeth to sée howe boldely you doe abuse the Scripture. Where doe you reade that eyther 〈◊〉〈◊〉 or Philippe, were ordeyned or confirmed Euangelistes, by miracle? There can be no such thing imagined: in the. 39. verse Acts. 8. the wordes* 1.38 be these: And as soone as they (that is Philippe and the Eunuche) were come oute of the water, the spirite of the Lorde caught away Philip, that the Eunuche sawe him no more &c. Was this the miracle that confirmed Philip an Euangelist? Lorde God what meane you? This was rather done to confirme the Eunuche: As for Philip it is ma∣nyfest that before this miracle he was an Euangelist: for in the same chapter we reade that before this tyme Philip had preached in Samaria, and conuerted them, béeing be∣fore seduced by Simon the sorcerer: and that he had also baptised them. Moreouer he had conuerted the Eunuch, and baptized him before this miracle was shewed: wher∣fore it could not be a confirming of his Euangelistship.

That in the. 1. Ti. 1. vers. 18. insinuateth, that dyuerse Prophecies had gone be∣fore of Timothie, whereby it was reuealed that he shoulde bée a woorthye Mini∣ster of the Churche, or as Caluine sayeth, which had commended him to the churche: although there be sundry interpretations of that place more lyke to bée true than that. But howe proueth it that hée was made an Euangelist, by miracle? First Ti∣mothie was nowe a Bishop, as hereafter is proued. Secondly, here is no mention made of any calling to an Euangelist ship. Thirdly, a Prophecie is not a miracle. Last of all, though this were true bothe in Philip and Timothie (as it is in neyther) yet dothe it not followe, that whosoeuer is called to be an Euangelist, must also be con∣firmed by miracle, for particular examples make no generall rule: Timothie was ordeyned minister of the Gospell, per impositionem manuum, by the laying on of han∣des,* 1.39 1. Ti. 4. 2. Ti. 1. And therfore his vocation was ordinarie, and néeded no such con∣firmation* 1.40 by miracle.

Chap. 3. the. 6. Diuision.
T. C. Page. 46. Sect. 4.

Nowe agayne, if there shoulde be any Euangelist, who shoulde ordeyne hym? you will saye the Bishop. But I saye that can not be, that the greater shoulde be ordeyned of the lesse. For* 1.41 the Euangelist is a higher degree in the Churche, than is the Bishop or pastor. And if he be so, why hath he not his estimation here in the Churche about the Bishop or Archbishop eyther? for the Archbishop is but a Bishop, or why doth not he ordeyne Bishops as Tunothie and Titus did, which were Euangelistes, being one poynt of theyr office, as Eusebius declareth?* 1.42

Io. Whitgifte.

You doe but trie my pacience in so often offending in the petition of the principle: For neyther can you proue an Euangelist to be an higher degrée in the Church than is a Bishop, neyther is it true that Timothie and Titus were Euangelistes, and not Bishops, and in that poynt haue you all the writers both olde and newe, stories and other, one or two only excepted, flatly against you, besides the euident reasons that may be collected out of the Scripture.

I know not to what purpose you quote the. 7. to the Hebrues, except it be for this* 1.43 texte: The lesse is blessed of the greater: in whiche place blessing is not taken for or∣deyning or consecrating: for Melchisedech did no suche thyng to Abraham. But it is there taken as it is Numer. 6. where the Priestes are commaunded to blesse the* 1.44 people, and therefore serueth not your turne for any thing here spoken.

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I vnderstand not to what ende you quote Eusebius in his third booke, and. 27. Chap∣ter.* 1.45 For there is not in that place one woorde spoken of an Euangelist, or any part of his office.

Chap. 3. the. 7. Diuision.
T. C. Page. 46. Sect. 5.

Agayne, if there be in euery Church a Pastor, as S. Paule cōmaundeth, what should the E∣uangelists do? for either that pastor doth his dutie, and then the Euangelist is superfluous, or if he do it not, then he is no lawfull pastor, and so ought he to be put out, and an other to be put in his steade. And where the pastor doing his dutie can not suffice, there the Scripture hath giuen him an ayde of the Doctour, which for bicause his office consisteth in teaching doctrine, to this end that the Pastor myght not be driuen to spende so much tyme in propounding the doctrine, but myghte haue the more tyme to employ in exhorting and dehorting, and applying of the doctrine to the ty∣mes and places, and persons, it is manyfest that he also is tyed to a certaine Church. For how coulde he be an ayde vnto the pastor to whose helpe he is giuen, vnlesse he were in the same church where the pastor is? And that the Euangelistes office hath bene to taken as a function that en∣dured* 1.46 but for a tyme, it may appeare first by that which Eusebius writeth speaking of Pante∣nus: for sayth he, there were vntill that tyme Euangelistes. &c. which was aboute the yeare of our Lord. 162. Wherby he giueth to vnderstand, that aboute that tyme they ceased, and that in his tyme there was none, when notwithstanding there were Bishops or Pastors, and Elders* 1.47 and Deacons. And Ambrose sayth, that there be no Apostles, but those whiche Christe himselfe did appoynt: wherby it appeareth, that of all the Ecclesiasticall functions that preach the woorde there are but the Pastor and Doctor only lefte vnto vs, and the same also restrayned to particu∣lar charges.

Io. Whitgifte.

But what if there be not in euery Church suche a Pastor, neyther can be, is the Euangelist then necessarie? you must of necessitie confesse that, for the people muste not be depriued of the worde, when by suche meanes they may haue it. Howebeit, though euery Churche had his Pastour, and euerye pastour dyd his duetie, yet might preaching by other doe good, as well for the confirmation of the Doctrine, and the more frequent preaching, as also for that it pleaseth God sometymes to woorke that by one, that he dothe not by an other. But what Scripture haue you to proue that the Doctor is added to the Pastour, as an ayde, or that the Doctor is tyed to a cer∣taine place? you haue no licence to coyne newe Scriptures, and in the olde I am sure you can not fynde it. As for youre bare woorde, it is but a verye bare proofe.

I tolde you before, that Hierome, Augustine, Chrysostome, Musculus, and dyuerse other vppon good reason confounde Pastour, and Doctor, and thynke them to bée but diuerse names of one office. And whereas you saye, that the Doctours office con∣sisteth in teaching doctrine, to this ende, that the Pastour myghte not be dryuen to spende so muche tyme in propoundyng the doctrine. &c. I woulde gladly knowe whence you learne that. Ambrose sayeth, they be suche as see good rule kepte in the Churche, or suche as* 1.48 teache children.

Eusebius woordes speaking of Pantenus be these: There were as yet at that tyme manie Euangelistes, whyche were prest and readie to this, that they myght wyth a god∣lie zeale accordyng to the Apostles example, promote and plante the woorde of God. Whyche proue, that there were then Euangelistes good store, whyche were zea∣lous. &c. But there is no mention made of any ceassing of their office: it rather pro∣ueth a continuance of the same, béeing so long after the Apostles tyme. There is nowe no suche Euangelistes as goe from kyngdome to kyngdome, or thoroughe the* 1.49 worlde, bycause the miraculous gifte of tongues is nowe ceased. Neyther is anye nowe lawfully called to any suche Ecclesiasticall function, but by man, and therfore they must goe no further than his authoritie extendeth that hath called them.

Ambrose sayeth truly, if he should say that there are no Apostles but such as Christ himselfe appointed, if we speake proprely and vsually (as I haue before declared) but that is no hinderance to any thing yt I haue affirmed. And yet surely ye words of Am∣brose sound nothing that way, for Ambrose abasing and disabling himselfe saith thus:

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Non igitur mihi apostolorum gloriam vendico, quis enim boc, nisi quos ipse filius elegit dei? &c. I therefore challenge not to my selfe the glory of the Apostles: for who can do this, but they whome the sonne of God did choose? And what can you hereof conclude? He saith af∣terwards also, that i e doth not chalenge to himselfe the circumspection of Pastors, yet was he then a Byshop, as it is in that place euident. Gladly would you haue some authoritie for your purpose, if you could tell where to find it.

Notes

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