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. 90. Sect. 4.

Then followeth Hemingius, who you say approueth these degrees of Archbishop, Metro∣politane, Bishop, Archdeacon, for so you must needes meane, when you say he approueth these* 1.1 degrees, or else you say nothing, for therevpon is the question. Nowe howe vntruly you speake, let it be iudged by that which followeth. First he sayth that our Sauiour Christ in S. Luke di∣stinguisheth, and putteth a difference betweene the office of a Prince, and the office of the Mini∣ster of the Church, leauing dominion to the Princes, and taking it altogither from the Ministers▪ here you see, not onely howe he is agaynst you, in your exposition in the place of S. Luke, which woulde haue it nothing else but a prohibition of ambition, but also howe at a worde, he cutteth the throte of your Archbishop, and Bishoppe as it is nowe vsed. And afterwarde speaking of the Churches of Denmarke, he sayeth they haue Christ for their heade, and for the outwarde disci∣pline, they haue Magistrates to punishe with the sworde, and for to exercise the ecclesiasticall dis∣cipline, they haue Bishoppes, Pastours, Doctours, which may keepe men vnder with the worde, without vsing any corporall punishment. Here is no mention of Archbyshoppes, Primates, Metropolitanes. And althoughe he sheweth that they keepe the distinction betweene Bishoppes and Ministers, agaynst which there hath beene before spoken, yet he sayeth that the authoritie which they haue, is as the authoritie of a father, not as the power of a mayster, which is farre o∣therwise here. (*) 1.2 For the condition of many seruaunts vnder their maysters, is much more free than the condition of a Minister vnder his Bishop. And afterwarde he sheweth wherein that au∣thoritie or dignitie of the Bishop ouer the Minister lyeth, that is in exhorting of him, in chyding of him▪ as he doth the lay people, and yet he will haue also the Minister, although not with suche authoritie, after a modest sort to do the same vnto the Bishop. And so he concludeth, that they reteyne these orders, notwithstanding the Anabaptistes. Nowe let the reader iudge whether Hemingius be truely or faythfully alledged or no, or whether Hemingius do say that they haue in their Church Archbishoppes, Primates; Metropolitanes, Archdeacons, or whether the By∣shoppes in the Churches of Denmarke are any thing like ours. For I 〈◊〉〈◊〉 omitte that he spea∣keth there agaynst all pompe in the Ministerie, all worldly superioritie or 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ghnesse, bycause I * 1.3 loue not to wryte out whole pages, as M. Doctor doth out of other mens wrytings, to helpe to make vp a booke.

Io. Whitgifte.

Hemin. in that very place quoted in your margēt hath first these words: Praeterea cū hic c〈1 line〉〈1 line〉tus, &c. Furthermore seing this society is ruled by the word of god, there are in it two sorts

of men, that is to say the preachers of the worde, and their hearers, which do reuerence and* 1.4 loue one another as fathers and children. But in the Ministers there is great diuersitie: for although the authoritie of all Ministers in respect of spirituall regiment is all one (for of ex∣ternall discipline shall be spoken in the proper place) yet there are diuerse orders and de∣grees of honour and dignitie: and that partly by the worde of God, partly by the approba∣tion and allowance of the Church. Where first he alloweth this distinction which you so greatly mislyke that all Ministers be equall touching spirituall iurisdiction, that is their ministerie, but not concerning externall discipline: then doth he allowe degrées of dignitie and superioritie among the Clergie: the which after that he hath prooued by the Scripture, as namely the. 4. to the Ephesians, and by the examples of Paule,* 1.5 Timothie, and Titus, he procéedeth and goeth on forwarde: and sayth, Ecclesia. &c. The Church, to whome the Lorde hath giuen power vnto edification, hath ordeyned an order of ministeries for hir profite, that all things might be rightly ordeyned for the re∣edifying of the bodie of Christ. Hereof the Primitiue Church following the tymes of the Apostles, did appoynt some Patriarkes, whose office it was to prouide that the Byshoppes of euerie 〈◊〉〈◊〉 shoulde be rightly ordeyned and elected: that the Bishops shoulde doe their duetie truely: and that the Clergie and people shoulde obey them in those things that perteyned to the Lorde: it appoynted also Chorepiscopos, (that is coadiutors of Bishoppes whome we nowe call Prouostes) some Pastors, and Catechistes. This was the ordination of the Primitiue Church. Wherein he plainly declareth these degrées that I speake of (for vnder the name of Patriarkes, it is euident that he comprehendeth Archby∣shops or Metropolitanes) to haue bene in the Primitiue Church, immediately after the Apostles tyme, and in the purest time of the Church: than the which what can be spoken more directly for my purpose, whose chiefe intent is, to proue the antiquitie of these names and offices?

After this he sheweth the abuses of these offices in the corruption of doctrine vnder the Pope, and he doth not onely name Archbishops, but Bishops also, Curates, and other, and therefore the note in your margent, is but a note of a speciall spyte agaynst the Archbishops. In the end speaking of Bishops, Pastors, and Doctors, he sayth thus. Inter hos ministros, &c. Amongst these ministers also our Churche acknowledgeth degrees* 1.6 and orders of dignitie, for the diuersitie of giftes, the greatnesse of labour, and the worthi∣nesse of their calling: and iudgeth it to be barbarous, to will to take this order out of the Church: It iudgeth that other Ministers ought to obey their Bishops in all things that tend* 1.7 to the edification of the Church, according to the worde of God, and the profitable order of the Church: It iudgeth that the Bishops haue authoritie ouer the other ministers of the Church, not such as is of masters, but of fathers. Wherby he acknowledgeth distinction of degrées and superioritie among Ministers, and the iurisdiction of Bishops ouer o∣ther Ministers: After all this he concludeth with these wordes conteyned in mine an∣swere: Nowe let the reader iudge whether I haue otherwise reported of Himingius than he himselfe in that Chapter affirmeth: and whether he consent vnto me that woulde haue distinction of degrées among the Ministers, or to you that would haue an equalitie which he calleth an Anabaptisticall and barbarous confusion.

Touching your notes gathered out of him, I will briefly answere: first, in the exposition of the. 22. of Luke, he is not agaynst me, for I would not haue Archbishops or Bishops. &c. to take from Kings their rule and dominion as doth the Pope: ney∣ther woulde I haue them to reigne ouer the people as Kings and Princes do. And I doe not thinke but that the authoritie and superioritie that they haue, is a ministe∣rie for the quietnesse of the Church, and the commoditie of other, and yet a gouern∣ment to: for the Apostle sayth, ad Hebr. 13. Obedite his qui praesunt vobis, Obey them that* 1.8 beare rule ouer you &c. Hemingius in that place especially dealeth agaynst the two swordes of the Bishop of Rome, and his excessiue pompe.

For the kinde of authoritie that the Bishop hath ouer the Ministers, that it should* 1.9 be of a father, and not of a master, I agrée with him, and I knowe that all you speake to the contrarie in the gouernment of this Churche, is most vntrue: For vndoub∣tedly if they haue offended in any thing, it is in to much lenitie, whiche is a fault euen

in a father. The authoritie that Hemingius giueth to the ciuill Magistrate, we ac∣knowledge with him to be moste due, and I would to God you also dyd in heart and mouthe confesse the same. Thus you sée that Hemingius and we agrée, and that there is nothing ascribed vnto him, whiche is not playnely to be founde in him.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cap. 10. 3. class. lib. Enchirid. vvhere also among the popish or∣ders he rec∣keneth the 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• (*) 1.2

  So is the con∣dition of a good seruant vnder a good master, muche better than the condi∣tion of an vnruly sonne vnder a wise father.
• * 1.3

  And therefore you cu〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sentences.
• * 1.4

  Hemingius alloweth di∣stinction of degrees in the ministerie.
• * 1.5

  Hemingius acknowled∣geth Patriar∣ches in the primitiue Churche. The office of Patriaches in the primatiue Church.
• * 1.6

  To take away degrees is barbarousnes.
• * 1.7

  Ministers subiect to Bi∣shops.
• * 1.8

  Heb. 13.
• * 1.9

  What kind of authoritie the Bishos ex∣ercise.