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. 3. the. 7. Diuision.

T. C. Pag. 110. Sect. vlt.

And as for the examples of Mary the sister of Moyses, of Olda, of Anna, and the daughters of Philip the Euangelist, whiche are all called prophetesses (tor I thinke M. Doctor meaneth these examples) as for them I say, it will be hard for to shew that they euer prophecied or taughte openly in any publike me〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ng or congregation. But the surer answer is, that although the Lorde do sometimes, not being vnder any law, change the order which he hath set, in raysing vp certayne women, partly to the shame of men and to humble them, partly to let them vnderstand that he can if he would, want their ministerie: yet it is not lawfull for vs to draw that into example and to fol∣low it: or that for as much as he breaketh the law which is not subiect vnto it, and which he made not for himselfe, that therefore we may breake the law wherevnto we be subiect and to whome it is giuen. But we must go in the broad high way of the commaundement, and of the ordinarie v∣sage of God, in gouerning his Church, and not in the byepath of certayne singular examples, which haue bin in dtuers ages. And as often as God hath vsed this extraordinarie meanes of the ministe∣rie of women, so often also hath he confirmed their calling eyther by miracle, or some wonderfull is∣sue, or with some other singular note and marke, whereby he hathe made their calling otherwise strange and monstrous, most certayne and vndoubted to all men.

Io. Whitgifte.

There be other examples also besides these, & yet these be sufficient to proue any thing that I haue spoken touching this matter: he that wel cōsidereth what is writ∣ten of Mary the Sister of Moyses. Num. 12. or of Olda. 2. Reg. 22. will not doubte whether they spake openly in the congregation or no: but you will not sticke vp∣on thys poynte. And in your seconde aunswere I agrée with you in thys,

that we must make no generall rule of these particular examples: and that women may not presume to preach in the congregation, except they be extraordinarily called therevnto, and haue certaine and sure signes of their calling. And surely I muse what you meane to spend so muche laboure about this matter, wherein there is no controuersie. I might say vnto you, as it hathe pleased you to saye vnto me, that you haue some old rusty notes which you would gladly vtter, and you know not how o∣therwise to make marchandise of them, than by picking suche a quarell to vtter them.