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.

For the full answering of this it shall be sufficient to set downe the iudgement of certaine of the learned writers of our time, touching the true meaning of that Canon* 1.1 of the Councell of Nyce, as the practise of the Church before that time, at that tyme, and since that time, haue expounded it.

M. Caluine in his Institutions Chap. 8. Sect 54. sayth thus. That euery prouince had among their Byshops an Archbyshop, And that the Councel of Nice did appoynt Patriarkes which should be in order and dignitie aboue Archbyshops: it was for the preseruation of discipline. M. Caluine sayth the Councell of Nyce did appoint Patriarkes which shoulde be in order and dignitie aboue Archbyshops. He sayth also that euery Prouince had a∣mong their Byshops an Archbyshop.

Il〈1 line〉〈1 line〉yricus in his cataloge testium veritatis speaking of this Councel sayth thus: Consti∣tuit* 1.2 quo{que} haec Synodus, vt singularum prouinciarum Metropolitani, potestatem habeant in suos E∣piscopos, sacerdotes & ecclesias, Alexandrinus in Aegypto, Antiochenus in Syria. &c. This Synode also appoynted that the Metropolitanes of euery prouince shoulde haue authoritie ouer their Byshops, Priestes, and Churches: The Byshop of Alexandria in Egypt, and the By∣shop of Antioche in Syria. &c. And in his booke that he entituleth a refutation of the in∣nectiue of Brunus against the Centuries, he doth interprete this Canon on this man∣ner. Here we see plainely that the Nicene Councell first in this Canon doth giue a primacie to the Metropolitane in euery Prouince, and doth make subiecte vnto him all the Byshops and Priestes of his prouince. Moreouer, that it maketh all the Metropolitane Byshops, as of Alexandria, Rome, and Antioche, and of other Prouinces altogether of equall authoritie a∣mongst them selues. And last, that the subiectes (if that I may so say) of an other, may not ap∣peale to any other Metropolitane, and after this manner the sixth Councell of Carthage doth vnderstande, alleage, and vrge the foresaid Canon in the former Epistle.

M. Foxe who hath very diligently, and faithfully laboured in this matter, and sear∣ched out the truth of it as learnedly, as I knowe any man to haue done, in his firste Tom. Pag. 11. writeth thus. Then followed the Councell of Nyce wherein it was decreed* 1.3 that throughout the vniuersitie of Christes Churche which was nowe farre spred ouer the world, certeine Prouinces and Precinctes to the number of foure were appoynted euery one to haue his head Churche and chiefe Byshop, called them Metropolitanes or Patriarkes to haue the ouersight of such Churches as did lye about him: and Pag. 12. he speaketh to the same effecte as it may appeare in his wordes which I haue before recited. And in the same Page he saith: VVherefore as we must needes graunt the Byshop of Rome to be called a Metropolitane or an Archbyshop by the Councell of Nyce: so we will not greatly sticke in this also, to haue him numbred with Patriarkes or Primates. &c.

But the very wordes of the Canon it selfe doth condemne you of a great ouersight,* 1.4 For this is the Canon, antiqua consuetudo seruetur per Aegyptū Libyam & Pentapolim: ita vt Alexandrinus Episcopus horum omnium habeat potestatem &c. Let the auncient custome be kept throughout Egypt, Libya, and Pentapolis, that the Byshop of Alexandria haue the go∣uernment of all these. &c. as is said before.

How say you nowe? is not this for the name and for the office also of our Metropoli∣tanes and Archbyshops? had not they iurisdiction of whole Prouinces, as ours haue?* 1.5 were not all other Byshops and Ministers of the Church subiect to them, as they be to ours? were not they Metropolitanes of Prouinces and countreys as ours be? And is this no more to differ, than a Minister of London and a Minister of Nuington? Truely I maruaile that you can be caryed vnto so manifest vntruthes, and palpable errors. But for the further declaration of the authoritie of a Metropolitane Byshop, though this which I haue said be sufficient, it may please you to take paines to peruse, in the* 1.6 Councell of Antioche the. 9. Canon. Per singulas prouincias Episcopos conuenit nosse Metropo∣litanum Episcopum, solicitudinem totius prouinciae gerere. In euerye prouince it is conuenient that Byshops should know, that the Metropolitane Byshop hath the caryng for of the vvhole prouince. &c. as is mentioned before, in the first Canon of the

Councell of Ephesus. It is also euident that the Metropolitane of the Prouince (for so is he there called) had authoritie ouer all the Bishops in the same prouince. But to make short bycause I shall haue other occasion to speake of this matter, M. Foxe in the trea∣tise before recited concludeth thus, VVhereby it is to be concluded, that to be false that Clement and Anacletus and Anicetus be reported (but falsly) to put a difference betwene Primates or Patriarkes, Metropolitanes, or Archbyshops, whereas by sufficient authoritie 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is to be proued, that in the olde Churche both Primates, first Byshops, Byshops of the firste seate, Patriarkes, Metropolitanes, Byshops of the mother Citie, and Archbyshops, were all one. First that Primates and Metropolitanes were both one, is before declared in the Ca∣nons of the Apostles, and by the Councel of Antioche aforesayd. The same doth Vilierius* 1.7 affirme in his booke de statu primitiuae ecclesiae. Fol. 26. and proueth it out of Socrates verye manifestly: that is, that Metropolitanes and Patriarkes were all one at the first. I am not ignorant but there is some controuersie among both the Ciuilians and Cano∣nistes whether a Metropolitane or an Archbyshop be all one or no, but in the ende this is the opinion of the most, so farre as I can reade or learne, that they be idem re, the same in déede, but differ nomine in name. For he is called an Archbyshop in respect of the other Byshops of whom he is the chiefe. But he is called Metropolitane in respecte of the Cities that be within his Prouince. But of Archbyshops and Metropolitanes more must be spoken hereafter.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The iudge∣ment of lear∣ned writers of the. 6. can. con. N〈1 line〉〈1 line〉cem. Caluine.
• * 1.2

  Illyricus.
• * 1.3

  M. Foxe.
• * 1.4

  T. C. con∣demned of vn truth by the words of the Canon. Can. 6.
• * 1.5

  The authori∣tie of 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉∣tropo. 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ane.
• * 1.6

  Con. Antioc〈1 line〉〈1 line〉.
• * 1.7

  Vilierius.