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. 75. Sect. 2. 3.

Cyprian (sayth he) speaking of the office of an Archebishop. &c. (*) 1.1 Unlesse (good Reader) thou wilte first beleeue that Cyprian speaketh of an Archebishop, and haste before concerned a strong imagination of it, M. Doctor can proue nothing. Aristotle sayth▪ that vncumming payn∣ters write the names of the beastes whiche they paynt in their tables, for bicause otherwise it could not be knowne what they paynt: So M. Doctor mistrusting that the Archebishop will not be knowne by his description, writeth first the name of that he will paynt out.

This is it which we striue about, whereof the controuersie is, and this M. Doctor taketh for graunted. He accuseth the authors of the Admonition for faulting in the petition of the princi∣ple, or desiring to haue that graunted which is denied, and yet I am sure that in the whole Admo∣nition there is not suche a grosse petition as this is. Where or in what words dothe S. Cyprian speake of the office of an Archbishop?

Io. Whitgifte.

It is the chiefe and principall office of the Archebishop, to prouide that peace and* 1.2 vnitie be kepte in the Churche, to suppresse schismes and heresies. &c. This dothe Cyprian in this place signifie in playne words.

That he meaneth of an Archbishop and Metropolitane, though he expresse not the name, it is euident by his words: for in the first place he speaketh of Cornelius, then Bishop of Rome, who had gouernment ouer that whole Prouince. And in the secōd place he speaketh of him selfe, who had a very ample and large iurisdiction. For bée∣ing* 1.3 Bishop of Carthage, he had the charge & ouersight of the Churches in Affrike, in Numidia, and in both the Mauritanies, as he him selfe doth testifie. lib. 4. Epist. 8▪ And as I haue before shewed out of Gregorie Nazianzene, he did not onely rule the Churche of Carthage, but also of Affrike, of Spayne, and almoste of the whole East* 1.4 partes: for the whiche cause Illyricus as I also sayde before, dothe call him Metro∣politane. And therfore I haue truely affirmed, that in those places he speaketh of the office of a Metropolitane or Archbishop: neyther is this a petition of the principle: but a true principle: but it is straunge to sée howe you forget your selfe, for afterwards in the. 95. page of your booke, you acknowledge that Cyprian was a Metropolitane* 1.5 Bishop, which sufficiently iustifieth my second place out of Cyprian.

Notes

• (*) 1.1

  This is rather to make sporte, than to confute
• * 1.2

  The princi∣pall office of an archbi∣shop.
• * 1.3

  Cyprian a Metropo∣litane.
• * 1.4

  Cap. 2. diui. 25
• * 1.5

  Pag. 95. sec. 2.