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.

Chap. 1. the. 17. Diuision.

T. C. Pag. 104. Sect. vlt.

Agayne it can not be sayd iustly, that they haue taken these reading ministers, vntil such tyme as better may be gotten, for if the Churche could procure able ministers, & shoulde desire that they myght be ordeyned ouer them, they can not obteyne that, considering that these reading ministers haue a free holde, and an estate for terme of their lyues in those Churches, of the whyche they are suche ministers: so that by this meanes the sheepe are not onely committed to an Idoll shepheard. I might say a wolfe, and speake no otherwyse than Augustine speaketh, in that a not preachyng minister hath entraunce into the Church, but the doore also is shut vpon hym, and sparred agaynst any able minister that might happily be founde out.

Io. Whitgifte.

And would you so gladly intrude your selues into some of their roomes? surely I beléeue it, & it is not vnknowē but that some of you haue labored to do it: Wel, I hau〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 before tolde you the iudgement of the reformed Churches touching such ministers as be not able to preach, béeing otherwise vertuous and godly. I haue also set downe the opinion of diuers learned and godly men, concerning ministers admitted to minister

the sacraments, whiche notwithstanding can not preache. If any man vse him sel〈1 line〉〈1 line〉e in his ministerie leau〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ly, or otherwise than beseemeth him, hys estate for terme of lyfe is not so sure, but that he maye be dispossessed of the same. Otherwyse if he vse him selfe honestly, and as it becommeth him, thoughe he haue not the gifte of preaching, (whiche notwithstanding is to be wyshed) God forbid that eyther you or any man else, shoulde seeke to displace him, that you might enioy the roome your selues. And surely if the minister were but tenant at will, or of Courtesie (as you would séeme to haue him) his state shoulde be moste slauishe and mis〈1 line〉〈1 line〉rable, and he and his family ready to goe a begging, when soeuer he displeaseth his parishe.

If you had tolde me where Augustine speaketh that, I shoulde haue quickely let you vnderstand his meaning, but his bookes be many & large, the sentēce you alleage shorte, and therefore it were to muche for me to search〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 it out. Moreouer it impro∣ueth nothing nowe in question. But with what face can you 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉loute and iest at me, for once or twice not quoting the chapter or leafe: your selfe so often offending in quo∣ting neyther chapter, leafe, booke, nor tome?