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. 52. Sect. 4.

The causes why wee are lothe to meddle with them, are not as many are borne in hande, * 1.1 by∣cause that we thinke any pollution so to sticke to the things themselues, as that the wearyng of them had any suche power to pollute and make vncleane the vsers of them: Neyther yet only bi∣cause the Papistes haue superstitiously vsed them, but bycause they hauing bene abhominably a∣vnsed by them, haue no vse nor profyte in those thinges or endes, wherein and wherevnto they are nowe vsed. And further, that they are also hurtful, beyng monuments of Idolatrie, where as to bring them in and establishe them, it behoueth that there shoulde some manyfeste profite of them appeare. For it is not inough to saye, it is indifferent in the owne nature, Ergo meete to be doone: but as the circumstaunces of the tymes and persons, and profite or hurte of our bre∣thren doe require or not require, so muste it be doone or not be done. For in these things whiche are called indifferent, God will haue the vse of them to be measured, that it be referred fyrste to his glorie, then to the profite of others.

Io. Whitgifte.

It is true that is commonly sayde: that suche as be in errour neyther long a∣grée with other, neyther yet with themselues. Some of you haue taught, that pollu∣tion dothe sticke to the thyngs them selues, as that the wearyng of them had power to pollute and make vncleane the wearoes: and a number be caryed away with that doctrine: else why do they refuse to come to our Churches, our sermons, yea to kéep vs cōpanie, or to salute vs? why spitte they in oure faces, reuile vs in the streates, and shewe suche lyke villanie vnto vs, and that onely bycause of our apparell? Is not all this a ma∣nifest declaration that they thinke vs therewith to be so polluted, that what so euer wee speake or doe is polluted, in lyke maner, euen the worde of God and his sacra∣mentes? and where haue they learned this, but of you and others your partners? Lykewyse what was the chiefe grounde of this opinion, howe didde you moue the people to this extremitie, and what haue they yet to speake in the defense of theyr excessiue raging? forsoothe that thys geare came from the Pope, was inuented by

Antichriste, and therefore abhominable, and not to be vsed. This onely reason they haue, and this is the common place that you haue hitherto bette vpon. But nowe béeing conuinced by manyfest reasons, and seeing the manyfolde absurdities, that wayteth vpon suche assertions, you passe ouer the matter as though you had neuer bene stayned with it, and saye the causes why you are lothe to meddle with them, are not as* 1.2 many are borne in hand. &c. So that in effecte this is nowe by you confessed, that those thyngs whyche the Papistes haue superstitiously vsed, yea whyche they haue abhominably a∣bused, if they haue any vse or profyte en those thyngs or endes, wherein and wherevnto they are nowe vsed, be lawfull, and not to be refused. And therefore wée muste (I thynke) haue no more to doe wyth thys Argumente: The Pope inuented them, Ergo, they are not to bee vsed: but thys muste bee the question, whether they haue anye vse or profite in those thynges or endes, wherein or wherevnto they are nowe vsed. And this shifte is in∣uented to take awaye all obiections, whiche maye bée of Churches, of Bells, of Pulpits, and suche lyke.

But let vs procéede to the reasons. You haue not yet proued that they haue no vse, or that they profyte not in those things and endes, wherin and wherevnto they are nowe vsed: and therefore I will take that for no reason as yet: althoughe I haue sufficientely an∣swered vnto it, where I haue spoken of Ceremonies, and in this treatise also that fo∣loweth* 1.3 of this matter.

You saye further that they are also hurtefull, beeyng monumentes of Idolatrie. &c. Whereby you acknowledge that notwithstanding they bée monumentes of ido∣latrie, yet maye they be broughte in and established if some manyfeste profite of them appeare, so that this also is graunted, that monuments of idolatrie may be broughte in and established vpon this condition, if they be profitable.

That which followeth in this portion of your replie touching things indifferent, I consent vnto, with this prouiso, that it is not euery mans part in the Church to iudge and determine, what the circumstance of the times and persons maketh profitable or hurtfull (for then should we neuer be quiet) but theirs onely, to whome the gouern∣ment of the Church is committed: to the whiche prouiso if you do consent, we are in this matter thus farre agréed.

Notes

• * 1.1

  This assertion is contrary to your practise. Monumentes of idolatrie may be vsed if they haue any profite.
• * 1.2

  The apparell not refused bycause the Papists vse it.
• * 1.3

  Tract. 2.