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. 120. Lin. 18.

But besydes the incommodities that vyse of makyng such holydayes, and continuyng of those which are so horribly abused, where it is confessed that they are not necessary: besydes this I saye the matter is not so indifferent as it is made, I confesse that it is in the power of the Churche, to appoynt so many dayes in the weeke or in the yeare, in the whiche the congregation shall assem∣ble to heare the worde of God, and receyue the Sacramentes, and offer vp prayers vnto God, as it shall thynke good, accordyng to those rules whiche are before alleadged. But that it hath power to make so manye holydayes (as we haue) wherein no man maye worke any parte of the daye, and wherein men are commaunded to cease from theyr daylye vocations, of Plowyng, and exercisyng theyr handye craftes. &c. that I denye to be in the power of the churche. For proofe whereof, I wyll take the fourth commaundement and no other interpretation of it than M. Doctor alloweth

of in the. 174. page, whiche is, that God lycenseth and leaueth it at the libertie of euery man to worke sixe dayes in the weeke, so that he rest the seuenth day. Seeing that therfore, that the Lord hathe lefte it to all men at libertie, that they might labour, if they thinke good sixe dayes: I say the Churche, nor (*) 1.1 no man can take away this libertie from them, and driue them to a necessarie rest of the body.

Io. Whitgifte.

The same God that gaue that libertie in that commaundement, did appoynt other solemne feast dayes besides the Sabboth: as the feast of Easter, of Pentecoste, of Tabernacles. &c. withoute any restraynte of this libertie. Therefore the interpre∣tation giuen by me page. 174. of that place, dothe not leaue it to euery priuate mans frée libertie, agaynst the authoritie of the Magistrate, or of the Churche, but it gi∣ueth libertie rather to suche as be in authoritie, and to the Churche to appoynt ther∣in what shall be conuenient.

The Magistrate hathe power and authoritie ouer his subiectes in all externall* 1.2 matters, and bodily affayres: Wherefore he maye call them from bodily labour, or compell them vnto it, as shall be thought to him moste conuenient. The libertie that God giueth to man, whyche no man oughte to take from hym, nor can if he woulde, is libertie of conscience, and not of worldly affayres. In bodily businesse he is to be gouerned by Magistrates and lawes. This doctrine of yours is very li∣centious, and tendeth too muche to carnall and corporall libertie, and in déede is a very perillous doctrine for all states. Not one title in Gods worde dothe constrayne eyther the Magistrate, or the Churche from turning carnall libertie to the spiritual seruice of God, or bodily labour to diuine worship, as those doe that cause men to ab∣stayne from corporall labour, that they maye heare the worde of God, and worship him in the congregation.

And whye maye not the Churche as well restrayne them from working anye parte of the daye, as it maye doe the moste parte of it, for you confesse, that it is in the power of the Churche to appoynte so many dayes in the weeke, or in the yeare, in the whiche the congregation shoulde assemble to heare the worde of God, and receyue the Sacramentes, and offer vp prayers vnto God, as it shall thinke good, according to those rules whiche are be∣fore alleaged: and this it can not doe, vnlesse in the same dayes during all that tyme, (whiche is no small portion of the daye) it restrayne them from bodily laboure.

Wherefore this béeing no commaundement, that they shall labour sixe dayes in the wéeke, but a signification that so many dayes they maye labour: as the same God that gaue this commaundement hathe done before in the olde lawe, so maye the Churches likewyse for the encrease of godlinesse and vertue, and edification, ap∣poynt some of those sixe dayes, to be bestowed in prayers, hearing the worde, admi∣nistration of the sacraments, and other holy actions.

Notes

• (*) 1.1

  You drawe from the Magi∣strate his law〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 authoritie, and giue to the peo∣ple too muche carnall libertie.
• * 1.2

  The Magi∣strate hathe authoritie to abridge exter∣nall libertie. What libertie can not be ta∣ken away.