I know there be diuers (*) 1.1 difficulties in this question, and therefore I was soth to enter into it, but that the Answerer setteth downe so considently, that it maketh no matter for the truthe of baptisme whether he be minister or no minister, and so whether one haue a calling or no calling, wherein notwithstanding he doth not onely by his often handling of one thing confounde his rea∣der, but himselfe also, and forgetteth that he is in an other question, than which is propounded. For although it should be graūced him, that the sacrament doth not depende vpon that, yet hath he not that (a) 1.2 which he would haue, that women may baptise for it is one thing to say the baptisme which is ministred by women is good and effectuall, and an other thing to say, that it is lawfull for wo∣men to minister baptisme. For there is no man doubteth but that the baptisme which is ministred by an hereticall minister is effectuall, and yet I thinke that M. Doctor will not say, that therefore an hereticall minister may baptise, and that it is lawfull for Herctikes to baptise in the Churche. And therfore men must not only take hede (as M. Doctor sayth) that they vsurpe not, that which they are not called vnto, but they must also take heede, that they receyue not functions and charges vpon them, whereof they are not capable, although they be therevnto called.
There are mo difficulties in this question than you can wel determine: and ther∣fore it had bene beste, eyther not to haue spoken of it at all, or els to haue handled it more substantially: but the scarcitie of matter and reasons, argueth the weakenesse and fayntnesse of the cause. I passe ouer your woordes: I go not aboute to proue that women may baptise, onely I withstande this errour, that the Substance and beyng of the Sacramentes dependeth vpon the man in any respect. I say that baptisme ministred* 1.3 by women is true Baptisme, though it be not lawfull for women to baptise, as the baptisme also ministred by heretiks is true baptisme, though they be vsurpers of that office. And the same, S. Augustine affirmeth of baptisme by laye men in the place* 1.4 before alleaged: Although (sayeth he) it be vsurped without necessitie, and is giuen of a∣ny man to any man, that which is giuen cannot be sayde not to be giuen, although it may be rightly sayde not to be rightly giuen. And I further say, that if the baptisime, ministred by hereticall ministers, which be no members of the Churche, be notwithstanding good and effectuall, I sée no cause why it should not be so rather, if it be ministred by laye men, which are members and partes of the Churche.