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.

Without doubt you forget your selfe, else would you not reason in this manner: The Archdeacon is inferior to the elder, therefore the byshop is not superior to the elder in any respect: I sée no sequele in this reason, neither yet any likelyhoode. Besides that, you vntruely report of Hierome, for hée speaketh of a Deacon, and not of an Archedeacon. But it is your manner so to deale: suerly I marueyle that you will vtter so manifest vntruthes. But if Hierome should so saye, yet is your argument nothing: for though an Archedeacon be inferiour to a minister (whome you call Elder) yet doth not that proue but that there mayé bée degrées among the ministers, and that the chéefest of them in authoritie, may be called a Bishop, as Hierome also in that Epistle declareth. And although Hierome confesse that by the scripture, Presbyter and Episcopus is all one, (as in déede they be quoad ministerium.) yet doth hée acknowledge a superioritie of the Bishop before the minister. For besides these places that I haue alleaged in my Aun∣swere to the Admonition, he saith thus in the same Epistle. Presbyter & Episcopus aliud* 1.1 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉tatis, aliud dignitatis est nomen, the one is a name of age, and the other of dignitie. And a litle after: In Episcopo & Presbyter continetur, the Elder or minister is conteyned in th〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 Bishop. Therefore no doubte this is Ieromes minde, that a Bishop in degrée and di∣gnitie is aboue the minister, though he be one & the selfe same with him in the office

of ministring the word and sacraments: and therfore he sayth, presbyter continetur in episcopo: bicause euerie Bishop is presbyter, but euery presbyter is not Bishop.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ad Euagr.