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. 103. Sect. 4. 5. 6.

The Councels although they did not obserue themselues always in making of decrees thys rule, yet haue kept this consideration continually in making their lawes, that they woulde haue the Christians differ from others in their ceremonies.

The Co ncell of Laodicea, which was afterward confirmed by the sixt generall Councell, de∣creed,* 1.1 that the Christians should not take vnleauened bread of the Iewes, or communicate with their 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

Also it was decreed in another Councell, that they shoulde not decke their houses with bay* 1.2 leaues, and greene boughes, because the Paganes did vse so, and that they shoulde not rest from their labours those days that the Paganes did, that they shoulde not keepe the firste day of euery moneth as they did.

Io. Whitgifte.

What is all this to your purpose? who saith that eyther we must vse all thinges that the Iewes and gentiles did, or that the Church hath not authoritie to take order therein as shall be thought most conuenient? the Churche at this time, did perceiue inconueniences in these customes and ceremonies, and therefore did by ordinaris authoritie abrogate them. In like manner and vpon like considerations hathe thys Church of England abandoned great numbers of Papisticall rites and ceremonies, but bycause it refuseth some, may it therefore reteine none? or bycause it reiecteth those which be wicked and vnprofitable, may it not therefore kéepe still suche as be godly and perteine to order and decencie?

The Canon of the Councell of Laodicea is this. Non 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a Iudaeis azyma accipe∣re,* 1.3 aut communicare impietatibus eorum. That we ought not to take vnleauened bread of the 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ewes, or communicate with their impietie. And surely, I maruell what you can cōclude

of it: for no man (as I suppose) doth thinke that we may vse ceremonies proper to the Iewes, and abrogated by Christ, or that it is lawful to communicate with theyr impietie.

That Canon which you call. 73. of the Councell of Bracar: is not to be found in a∣ny such Councell, for there are not so many Canons in any Councell so called: but the Canon that you meane (as I thinke) is among the Canons collected out of the Gréeke Synods by S. Martin, and in number. 74. The words be these. Let it not be lawfull to vse wicked obseruations of the calends, and to keepe the gentiles holy days, nor to decke houses with bays or greene 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉oughes, for all this is an heathenish obseruation.

To what purpose do you alleadge this canon? what doth it proue? Christians are inhibited from obseruing days and times and other friuolous superstitions, after the maner of the Gentiles: But what is this to godly prayers, grounded vpon the word of God, or comely and decent orders and ceremonies?

Notes

• * 1.1

  Tom. 1. con Lao. can. 38
• * 1.2

  2. To. Brac∣car. can. 7〈1 line〉〈1 line〉.
• * 1.3

  Canon. 38.