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. 65. Sect. 4.

Let vs see of discipline and gouernment, which we may see to be cōmitted to those which haue the preaching of the worde and to others also which did not preach the worde, when S. Paule* 1.1 sayth, that the elders which gouerne well are worthie double honour especially those which trauell in the word: where he appoynteth the gouernment to the ministers of the word, & to those also that were not ministers of the worde. And therevpon it followeth that the ministers of the Church ar not seuered one from an other, as you, bycause some haue the ministration of the worde and Sa∣craments only, and some with the administration of the Sacraments and worde, haue also the go∣uernment and discipline in their handes: but cleane contrarywise S. Paule distinguisheth them, and sheweth that all the ministers in the Church haue the gouernment, but all haue not the worde to handle, so that he distinguisheth the ministery into that which is occupied in the worde and go∣uernment, and into that which is occupied in the gouernment onely. But in this distinction you do not onely forget S. Paule, but you forget your selfe. For if S. Paule speake in that place of those that meddle with the ministring of the worde and sacraments (*) 1.2 only: why doth the bishop which is one of the ministers that S. Paule speaketh of (beyng the same that pastor is) why I say doth he meddle with the discipline and order of the Church, seyng that belongeth not to him by your distinction? why doth also the Archbyshop (whom you say is a byshop), meddle with it? And thus you see you neede no other aduersary than your selfe to confute you.

Io. Whitgifte.

The reader should better haue vnderstoode what you had gone aboute, if you had set before his eyes the wordes that you confute. Now I scarce vnderstand your mea∣ning my selfe. You shote altogether without a marke. I know no man that denieth discipline and gouernment to be committed to those that haue the preaching of the worde, and to o∣thers also which preach not the worde. But if you meane that eyther all kinde of ecclesi∣asticall discipline and gouernment, is committed to all such as preach the worde, or in as ample manner to one as to another, you haue not yet proued it, neyther will you be hable to proue it with all the learning that you thinke your selfe to haue.

That in 1. Tim. 5. doth proue no such matter, as you pretende. For what doth* 1.3 S. Paule meane there, by gouerning well? Christ〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 & Ecclesiae suae tum doctrina tum inte∣gritate vitae fideliter inseruire, non suased quae Dei sunt quaerere: to serue Christ and his Church faythfully both in doctrine and integritie of lyfe, to seeke not those things which are his, but those which are Gods. Thus do the learned interpreters expound, bene praeesse, in this place. Is not the office of teaching, exhorting, reprouing, an office of ruling and gouerning? But you say that the Apostle doth make two kinde of gouernours, one that trauayleth in the worde, the other that doth not. And what then? he that dili∣gently doth that office that is committed vnto him, whether it be in preaching the worde, prouiding for the poore, visiting the sicke, or any such lyke function, doth rule well. But doth it therefore follow that all haue like authoritie, or that there is no kinde of Ecclesiasticall gouernment or discipline, but that which is common to all the ministers of the worde? Certayne it is, that euery Pastor that doth his duetie in* 1.4 preaching ruleth well, and so do they also that duely and truly administer the Sacra∣ments, relieue the poore, visite the sicke, priuately admonish, &c. But is there there∣fore none that hath superioritie ouer them, to procure that those things be done accor∣dingly, to correct them if they be not done, to sée that euery man be kept in order, be

obedient to lawes, teach true doctrine, breake not vnitie. &c? This place therefore helpeth you not. For although all ministers of the woorde rule and gouerne after a sort, yet do not they al so, in all kinde of gouernment, nor equally, for they also must haue gouernours.

But consider your reason or at the least the end of your drifte. All ministers of the* 1.5 worde gouerne their parishes by preaching the woorde, rebuking sinne. &c. Ergo, th〈1 line〉〈1 line〉y must haue none to gouerne them, and kéepe them in order, and sée that they do their duetie: it is all one with this. Euery Master of a familie ruleth ouer his familie▪ and therefore he must haue no superïour to rule ouer him: or euery chiefe officer of Ci∣ties or Townes be rulers and gouernours of those places, therfore they must haue none to rule and gouerne either their cities and townes, or themselues. In déed this is a plausible doctrine to make euery Pastor chiefe gouernour within his owne pa∣rishe, and to make euery citie and towne a kingdome within it selfe: but it is a pesti∣lent doctrine, for in short time there would be as many Popes as Pastors, as many religions as parishes, as many sectes as families, and in the end an ouerthrow both of religion, the Churche, and the kingdome. Neyther coulde there possibly haue bene inuented a more readier way for the Pope to make his entrie in hither againe.

Of your distinction of Presbyter, I will speake in a more fitte place.

I haue not forgot my selfe, but you neyther vnderstande (as it appeareth) my writings, neyther yet your own, for hyther to you haue fought wythout an ad∣uersarie.

And yet I muste put you in minde of your falsehoode and subtill dealing: for whereas I saye that the Apostle in the. 4. Ephe. speaketh onely of those ministers and ministeries, which are occupied in prayers, the worde and administration of the sacraments. you by displacing the woorde, only, make your Reader beléeue, that I affirme the A∣postle to speake in that place, of those that meddle with the ministring of the word and Sa∣craments onely, as if I shoulde seclude the ministers of the worde from all kinde of gouernment.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1. Tim. 5.
• (*) 1.2

  You falsifie my woordes, by displacing the worde (only).
• * 1.3

  What it is to rule well.
• * 1.4

  All ministers gouerne but not alike.
• * 1.5

  Wherevnto 〈◊〉〈◊〉 dust of the 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉.