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.

It is vntrue that I vse any reasons at all to proue, that women may baptise: onely I bring this and such like examples to improue this generall assertion of the Admo∣nition, that then sacraments were ministrred by ministers only, and not by midwiues or deacons. For Deacōs then did baptise, and Moses wife long before that time did circumcise. I know that particular examples make no general rules: but you are not ignorant that* 1.1 particular examples may in the like cases and circumstances be followed, when ther is no rule to the contrary.

The place in the. 3. of Iohn by you alleadged hath diuers interpretations, and the most part of the auncient writers, do take water in that place, for materiall and ele∣mentall water: as Augustine, Chrisostome, Ambrose, Cyrill, and sundry others, euen as* 1.2 many of the auncient fathers, as I haue red vpon that text. But bycause I do mis∣like as much as you the opinion of those that thinke infants to be condemned, which are not baptized, therefore I will not contend with you, eyther in the interpretation of that place, or in anye other thing that you haue spoken touching this er∣roure: onely this I saye, that you must take héede, least in auoiding an errour, you fall into an heresie, and giue place to Anabaptistes, in not baptising in∣fants. And I knowe not what you can saye agaynste priuate baptisme, in that case of necessitie, whyche they doe not in lyke manner alleadge a∣gaynste the baptising of yong Infantes. Master Caluine in his Introduction

Aduersus Anabap. though he allowe not this errour, which condemneth chyldren not baptized, yet doth he approue and allowe the necessitie of baptizing infantes: His woordes be these. But some man will say, that the grace of God towardes vs, is not dimi∣nished* 1.3 if infantes be not admitted to Baptisme, so that it be not denied, that God is as mer∣cifull vnto them as vnto the children of the Iewes, but I will shewe that it is much dimi∣nished: for we muste esteeme the grace of God, especially by the declaration thereof which he maketh both by his worde and Sacramentes. Seyng therefore Baptisme is nowe ordey∣ned, that the promise of saluation may be sealed in our bodies, as it was in tymes past in the people of the Iewes: Christians should be depriued of a singular consolation, if theyr chil∣dren shoulde be secluded from this confirmation, which all the faythfull haue at all tymes enioyed, that they should haue the visible signe, whereby the Lorde doth shewe and witnesse that he receyueth their children into the Communion and fellowship of the Churche.

If the Authours of the Admonition say truly, that Victor who liued Anno. 198. did firste appoynt that women might Baptise, then came it neyther from the Papistes, nor yet from the Gentils. But whensoeuer this began, or from whom soeuer it was taken, the baptizing of infantes hath alwayes bene thought necessarie in the Church, by all such, as haue not deuided themselues by any Schisme or Heresie from the same.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Particular examples may sometimes be followed.
• * 1.2

  Chr. in. 3. Io. 3. lib. de spi∣rit. sanct. lib. 2. de Abra∣bam patriar. Cyri. in. 3. Io.
• * 1.3

  Caluine 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉∣uers 〈◊〉〈◊〉.