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. 1. the. 3. Diuision.

T. C. Page. 52. Sect. 4. 5.

Nowe, that they are not profitable and hurtfull, it also may appeare, if we consider them by all the kinds of men in the realme.

The Papistes are eyther stubborne or weake, and in respect of both these, they cannot be but hurtfull. The weake I call those that haue made some steppe from poperie to the gospell, and of whome there is good hope that they may be fully gotten to the Gospell: but these are harmed by the vse of these vestiments, for they take occasion of falling at them, bycause they thinke that the sacra∣ments get reuerence by them, and the ministerie is commended by such apparel wearing, and thinke that the sacraments want something of that they should haue, if they be not vsed: Wherevpon are hard oftētimes these voyces: I will not communicate vnlesse he weare a surplis. But this offence and occasion of falling is confirmed by the vse of these garments, therefore in respect of suche men, they are hurtfull.

Io. Whitgifte.

Al this is spoken without proofe, and it is very vntrue that the weake Papist is hurt in any respect by wearing this apparell: they take such garments as things pertey∣ning to comelinesse and order, and so ought they to do. Neyther did I euer in my life heare that these garments hindred one iote any from comming to the gospell. But admitte all this were true (as it is most vntrue) why should it not aswell by doctrine and teaching be remoued, as other superstitious opinions be in these things, whiche you can be content still to remaine.

These voyces, I will not communicate, vnlesse he weare a surplis, may sometimes come vpon iust cause, whē the good subiect séeth the minister which ought to be an example

of obedience, stubburnly and wilfully shewe example to the contrarie: and somtime it may come of waywardnesse when men be disposed to contende: but surely I doe not thinke that any man, whiche is persuaded to communicate with vs in the Sacramentes, can thinke that they be eyther the better or the worse for the exter∣nall habite of the minister. They be dissuaded from farre greater matters than that, and therefore it is not to be thought that they will sticke in such trifles. But ad〈1 line〉〈1 line〉t it were so, is it not as greate an errour to thinke that the Sacramentes bée pollu∣ted with the apparell, as it is to thinke, that they wante somethyng, whiche they should haue, if the apparell be lacking? Yes truly: and therfore to take away bothe the errours, I thinke it moste conuenient, the apparell be vsed, and these errours by doctrine to be confuted.