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.

I do not oppose mens authoritie to y^e authoritie of y^e holy ghost, & to the reasons, which ar groun∣ded out of the scripture, but I oppose them to your authoritie, and to your reasons, who spurne against that order, whiche the holie ghoste hath placed in the Churche, & most shamefully abuse the scripture to mainteine your errours: an example wherof is this present text alledged by the Admonition. which you passe ouer in silence, condemning therby their leudenesse in abusing the same. It is you and yours that abuse the name and authoritie of the holie ghoste: it is you that wring and wreste the Scriptures vn∣tollerably: it is you that falsifie authorities of learned men, & corruptly alledge them: It is you I say, that depraue and discredit such writers as haue bene, and be notable instrumentes in the churche of Christe, and all this you do to maintaine your errone∣ous opinions and false doctrine, wherewith you endeuour to subuerte this churche of Englande.

M. Caluines wordes be playne, and they directly ouerthrowe your equalitie of mi∣nisters, and shewe the fondnes of the Admonition in alledging that place of scripture to proue any such equalitie. M. Caluines wordes be these: Qu〈1 line〉〈1 line〉muis commune sit omnibu〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 verbi ministris, idem{que} officium, sunt tamen bonoris gradus: Although the selfe same office be common to all the ministers of the worde, yet there are degrees of honor. Which wordes disproue the equalitie of ministers by the admonition affirmed, & confirmed with this portion of scripture by M. Caluine here interpreted, that is. 2. Cor. 10. verse. 7.

If there were degrees of honour in the Apostles tyme among those which had idem 〈◊〉〈◊〉, the selfe same office, as M. Caluine affirmeth, why should there not be so now* 1.1 likewise? But will you sée howe vnlike you are vnto your selfe, euen in these fewe lynes? first you saye that M. Caluines meaning is that an Apostle is aboue an Euange∣liste, an Euangelist is aboue a Pastor. &c. and by and by after you confesse that there was chieftie euen among the Apostles, but it consisted in labouring and suffering more than the rest, and in giftes more excellent than the rest.

To omitte these contrarieties of yours, into the whiche the plainenesse of Master Caluin〈1 line〉〈1 line〉s wordes hath driuen you: this inequalitie that you confesse to haue bene in these offices (which notwithstanding you speake of your owne head without any war∣rant of Gods worde) argueth that there maye be superioritie among the ministers of the Churche. And the degrées of honour that you acknowledge to haue bene a∣mong the Apostles, quite cast〈1 line〉〈1 line〉th downe your confused 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉qualitie. As for your sal∣uing the matter in saying, that this chiefetie among the Apostles consisted not in hauing anye superioritie aboue the reste, but in laboring. &c. it may please vnskilfull persons, but it will not satisfie men of discr〈1 line〉〈1 line〉tion and wisdome. For it is to be thought that euery one of y^e Apostles laboured in their calling to the vttermost of their powers, that they suffered whatsoeuer God laide vpon them, that they had all giftes most aboundantly necessa∣rie for their functions. Wherfore in all these things there was summa aequalitas, and no m〈1 line〉〈1 line〉n sought such preheminence, or receyued it being offered vnto him, but according to their owne doctrine euery one thought of another better than of 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Wher∣fore it could not be for this respect, but it was for order & pollici〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 to a〈1 line〉〈1 line〉oyde confusion.

I haue tolde you before why you labour so muche to haue honour and dignitie dis∣tributed according to the excellencie of gifts, for then you perswade your selfe, that the chiefetie would light on your owne necke, but you may peraduenture be deceiued.

Notes

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  T. C. contra∣〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ie to himselfe