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. 85. Sect. 1.

And if any man will call this (*) 1.1 a rule or presidentship, and him that executeth this office 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 president or moderator, or a gouernour, we will not striue, so that it be with these cautions, that he be not called simply gouernour, or moderator, but gouernour or moderator of that action, and for that time, and subiect to the orders that others be, and to be censured by the company of the bre∣thren, as well as others, if he be iudged any way faultie. And that after that action ended, and mee∣ting dissolued, he sit him downe in his old place, and set himselfe in equall estate with the rest of the ministers. Thirdly, that this gouernment or presidentship, or whatsoeuer like name you will gyue it, be not so tyed vnto that minister, but that at the next meeting it shall be lawfull to take another, if another be thought meeter.

Io. Whitgifte.

These cautions are méete for such a deuise, and apt for a tumultuous company and a congregation of proude and arrogant persons, that cannot abide any superioritie or gouernment. This I am well assured of, and it is euident both by that which is alrea∣dy spoken, and that which is to be said herea〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ter, that there can neyther patterne nor* 1.2 forme be found of it in any Church since the Apostles time, recorded in any writer of credite, but the cleane contrary for ecclesiasticall writers do both cal Byshops gouer∣nours simply, and manifestly also declare, that their office of gouernment was not for one action only, but during their life or at the least during their continuance in that seate or byshopricke▪ and it is playne by that which I haue sayd before, that the office

of the Metropolitane (which was to call Synods, and to moderate them, to ordeyne* 1.3 byshops, or at the leas〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 to consent therevnto, to suppresse schismes and such like) was affixed to the place and byshop of the same, as to Rome, Cō〈1 line〉〈1 line〉tantinople, Alexandria, &c. this do all the olde canons declare, as the. 6. and. 7. Canon of the councell of Nice, the. 9. of the councell of Antioch, and the. 5. of the generall councell of Constantinople, the. 12 of the second councell of Carthage, the. 21. Concilij Mileuitani: the. 11. of the gene∣rall councell of Chalcedon: to be short all these testimonies and examples alleadged of me before, out of Cyprian. &c. and the continuall practise of the Church. And there∣fore such new cautions here by you set downe, be only méete for such a strange and mishapen platforme and kynd of gouernment as is by you and your faction deuised.

Notes

• (*) 1.1

  And what scripture hau〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 you for this▪
• * 1.2

  Byshops go∣uernours sim∣ply, not of one action only.
• * 1.3

  The 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 the 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ixed to a place.