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. 5. the thirde Diuision.

Ansvvere to the Admonition. Page. 57. Sect. 1. & Page. 58. Sect. 1.

Augustine in his Epistle ad Publicolam hathe this notable saying.* 1.1 Et cum templa, idola, luci, & si quid buiusmodi data potestate euertuntur, quamuis manifestum est, cum id agimus, non ea nos honorare, sed potius detestari, ideò tamen in vsus nostros priuatos duntaxat & proprios, non debemus indè aliquid vsurpare, vt appareat nos pietate ista destruere, non auaritia. Cum verò in vsus communes, non proprios ac priuatos, vel in honorem dei veri conuer∣tuntur, hoc de illis fit, quod de ipsis hominibus, cum ex sacrilegis & impijs in veram religionem mu∣tantur. &c. VVhen temples, Idols, groues, and such like things by authoritie be ouerthrovvne, althoughe it is manifest, vvhen vvedoe that, vve honour* 1.2 them not, but detest them, yet for all that vve may not therefore conuert thē or vse them to our ovvne priuate vses onely and commoditie, that it may appeare that vve destroy them for Religion sake, and not for couetousnesse. But vvhen they are conuerted, not into priuate and our ovvne vse, but into common vses, or to the honor of the true God, that is done and brought to passe in them, vvhich is done and brought to passe in men them selues, whē of Idolaters and vvicked persons they are chaunged into true Religiō. This hath God himselfe taught in those testimonies, vvhich thou thy selfe haste

vsed, vvhen as God himselfe commaunded that of that same groue, vvhich vvas dedicated to straunge Gods, there shoulde be wood taken for his sacri∣fices: and of Hierico, that all the Golde and Siluer, and brasse shoulde be brought into the treasurie of the Lorde. VVherefore that also, vvhich is vvritten in Deutronomie, thou shalt not couet their siluer nor their golde, neyther shalt thou take any thing therof to thy selfe, least thou offende, by∣cause it is abhomination vnto the Lord thy God. &c. It manifestly appear∣reth that eyther priuate vses is forbydden in such things, or that nothing should so be brought into thy house that it be honored: for then it is abho∣mination. &c. Hetherto Augustine.

By these wordes it doth manifestly appeare, that euen things al∣together* 1.3 dedicated to Idols and vsed in Idolatrie, may be conuerted to common vses, and vsed in the seruice of God and to his honor, but not to priuate vses nor superstitiously.

T. C. Pag. 55. Sect. 4.

As for Augustine his place, it is to be vnderstanded of such things as haue (*) 1.4 a necessarie vse, and therefore may not be taken away from vs by the superstition of men. For so we might also be depriued of the sunne, which is as it were the life of the worlde, bycause the sunne hath bene wor∣shipped. But that Saint Augustine did not like of this kinde of reteining ceremonies, it maye (*) 1.5 appeare. Do you aske saith he, how the Paganes may be wonne, how they may be brought to sal∣uation,* 1.6 forsake their solemnities, let go their toyes, and then if they agree not vnto our truth, let thē be ashamed of their fewnesse, whereby he sheweth that the nearest waye to gaine the Papistes, is to forsake their ceremonies. And yet I woulde be lothe to saye eyther with you, or with Augu∣stine, that it is not lawfull for a man, to make of a Popishe surplisse, a shirte for himselfe, or to take the golde of a Cope which he hath boughte, and conuert it to his priuate vse. And herein we do no∣thing disagree with Saint Augustine, whiche graunt that surplesses and copes, and tippets, and cappes, may be applyed to a good vse, eyther common or priuate, as they will best serue, but we de∣nie that that vse is in distinguishing either the ministers from other men, or the ministers executing their ecclesiasticall function from themselues, when they doe not exercise that office.

Io. Whitgifte.

The wordes of Augustine be plaine, neyther can they be so shifted of. And it ma∣keth euidently against your distinction that he sayth such things may not be conuerted into priuate vses. A man may cauill with the most manifest authorities either of scrip∣tures or fathers, that can be: but euery shifte and cauill is not a sufficient answere. This proposition is by these wordes of Augustine directly proued: that things altoge∣ther dedicated to Idols and vsed in Idolatrie may be afterwarde vsed in the seruice of God, and to his honour, which is the state of our question. And bycause this is a materiall poynt, and peraduenture Saint Augustine his authoritie is not much regarded of you, I will set downe M. Caluine his opinion also touching the same matter, who in hys Harmonie vpon the bookes of Moyses, vpon these words in the. 23. of Erodus ver. 24. Thou shalt vtterly ouerthrowe, and breake in peeces their Images, sayth t〈1 line〉〈1 line〉us: we make it* 1.7 not now any scruple of conscience to reteine still those Churches which were polluted with Idols, and to put them to better vse bycause that whiche is added to the lawe propter conse∣quentiam (as they terme it) doth not bynde vs. I graunt that all those things which doe tende to the planting of superstition ought to be taken awaye, so that, by precise vrging of that vvhich is of it selfe indifferent, vve be not in to much rigour, Supersti∣tious. The place is worth the noting, it fully ouerthroweth your groundes agaynst the apparell.

Saint Augustine in that sermon quoted in your margent, speaketh against such as professing Christianitie did notwithstanding resort to the temples of the Paganes at their solemnities and feasts, thinking it sufficient, if they did in heart detest the Idols, though in bodie they were present in their temples and at their feasts: much like vn∣to those that thinke it sufficient to serue God in heart, though in bodie they be present

at the Masse, and Idolatrous seruice. That this is the meanyng of Augustine in that place, it may euidently appeare to all suche as will peruse it: vpon this Augustine bringeth in these wordes: If you aske howe the Paganes may be ouercome, wonne, and illuminated, howe they maye be brought to saluation: forsake all their solemnitie, let goe* 1.8 theyr toyes, and then if they agree not vnto the truth, let them be ashamed of theyr few∣nesse. It was in Saint Augustines time, as it is in some places at this day, where in some one citie there be Churches both for the Gospell, and for the masse also: it is not méete that suche as professe the Gospell, shoulde resort to the Masse: for besydes that they offende God in beyng presente at Idolatrous seruice, they also giue occasion to the Papistes to thinke better of theyr Masse, bycause they sée it frequented of suche as seeme to professe the Gospell, and thereby also persuade them selues of a greater multitude that embraceth their Religion: wherefore one way to conuert them is, to absteine from their Churches, that they may vnderstand both our misliking of theyr seruice, and their owne paucitie also. And that this is ment of by Augustine in that place, it may also appeare by these wordes in the same Sermon: The Paganes saye in their heartes, why forsake we our Gods, seeing the Christians them selues worship them as well as we. And agayne: Beholde against what true God thou doest offende, whyles thou fallest downe before false Gods. S. Augustine speaketh not one worde in all that sermon of ceremonies, or any thing else taken from the gentils, and by Christians con∣uerted to other vses: muche lesse of any suche matter as we haue newe in question. And therfore you do but abuse the Reader by reciting certaine words of S. Augustine without the circumstances, which open the true meaning of them.

I praise your wit for saying that such things may be conuerted to priuate vses: for denie that (as S. Augustine plainely doth) and I shall be bound vnto you, that your doctrine shall haue the fewer fautors by. 3. parts: for surely many that condemne your opini∣ons in heart, for hope of priuate commoditie, that might come vnto them, by the disso∣lution of colledges, Churches, &c. doe séeme very wel to like of them. Wherfore teach them (if you be wise) that such things may be conuerted to their priuate vses, what∣soeuer Augustine saith to the contrarie.

Augustine saith also that they maye be conuerted in honorem Dei, vnto the honour of God. What say you to that? as for your denying that that vse is in distinguishing eyther the ministers from other men. &c. bicause it is but your bare denyall against al the proofes alleaged, I will with affirming the contrarie passe it ouer.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Augustinus.
• * 1.2

  Priuate vse of idolatrous things forbid∣den.
• * 1.3

  Idolatrous things turned to cōmon vse.
• (*) 1.4

  This shift 〈◊〉〈◊〉 answered 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ward.
• (*) 1.5

  This shift 〈◊〉〈◊〉 answered 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ward.
• * 1.6

  August. 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉om. 10. de verbis do∣mini in Mattheum 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉m. 9.
• * 1.7

  Calui〈1 line〉〈1 line〉.
• * 1.8

  Aug. serm. 6. de verbis do∣mi. in Matth.