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.

Christ is a paterne and an example to vs in all goodnesse, whome we muste fol∣lowe,* 1.1 and yet we neuer saw him, but haue only heard of him by his word. S. Paule willed the Corinthians. 1. Cor. 4. &. 11. and the Philippians chap. 3. to followe him, and yet was he not perpetually resident among them. A man may be throughly knowne touching his externall conuersation, of those with whom he is diuers times conuer∣sant, although he be not alwayes abiding with them. I thinke there be Pastors very well knowne to their flockes both for their life and doctrine, and yet doe not continu∣ally remaine with them: you and I haue not bin long nor much conuersant together, and yet surely I suppose that I know you both touching your Religion, conuersation, and affectiō, as well as if I had béen twentie yéeres companion in your chamber with you. And therfore this is no good argument, to say that the pastor muste be an example to his flocke, and therfore he must of necessitie be continually among them, for he maye so be, and that perfectly, if he be sundry times among them, and likewise if they heare of his good conuersation in place where he remayneth, when he is not among them.

The same answere serueth for that which is alleaged out of the. 10. of S. Iohn.

S. Peter. 1. Epist. Chap. 5. doth not onely exhort Pastors and such as be addicted to some certain place, but all other also to whom this word presbyter doth reach, as it may appeare in that he himself sayth qui sum & ipse presbyter, whiche am also my selfe an el∣der.* 1.2 Wherfore it is an exhortation generall to al preachers and Ministers of y^e word, and not only proper to pastors: the words that follow be diuersly expounded: some say feede the flocke of God, which dependeth vpon you, some, which is committed vnto you, and othersome, as muche as lyeth in you, which is the most common interpretation, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it is as much as though he should say, according to the Talent that God hath gyuen

vnto you. But how soeuer it be interpreted, the meaning is, that euery mā labour in teaching, instructing, and gouerning the Church of Christ, and the charge committed vnto him faithfully and diligently. Which exhortatiō of Peter may be obeyed of him that is not continually remaining in one place, if he do, as I haue said before.

The words of S. Paul Acts. 20. tend to the same ende. A minister of the word and pastor must be diligent in his calling, not slouthfull, and ought to séeke by all meanes possible to profit the Church of Christ, and especially in such places, where vnto he is especially called: all this I graunt.

The place of S. Paule. 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉. Thes. 2. is far from the purpose. For Paule declareth his singular good will and affection that he had to the Thessalonians: he doth not expresse any dutie of his ministerie, and therfore a learned man interpreting that place sayth, binc colligimus, quod sancti etiam se videre secundiòn carnem gestiunt, hereof we gather, that the Saincts also do gladly desire to see one another bodily. A man to expresse his singular af∣fection towards his friend, will say, that it gréeueth him to be out of his companie one houre. But how followeth this argument. Paule was desirous to be corporally pre∣sent with the Thessalonians, and to remaine with them, Ergo a Pastor must neuer be absent from his flocke? if it be lawfull to make such arguments, I will conclude any thing.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A man ma∣〈1 line〉〈1 line〉olow the ex∣ample of h〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 that is not 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉l∣wayes present
• * 1.2

  1. Peter. 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉.