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. 2. the. 4. Diuision.

Ansvvere to the Admonition. Pag. 176. Sect. 3. 4. 5.

Ierome writing vpon the. 4. chap. to the Galatians, sayth on this* 1.1 sorte: If it be not lavvfull to obserue dayes, moneths, times, and yeres, vve also fall into the like fault vvhich obserue the passion of Christ, the Sabboth day, and the time of Lent, the feasts of Easter, and of Pentecoste, and other times appoynted to Martyrs, according to the maner and custome of eue∣ry nation, to the vvhich he that vvill ansvvere simply, vvill say, that our obseruing of dayes is not the same vvith the Ievvish obseruing, for vve doe not celebrate the feast of vnleuened bread, but of the resurrection & death of Christe. &c. And least the confused gathering togither of the people should diminishe the fayth in Christ, therfore certayne dayes are appoyn∣ted that vve might all meete togither in one place, not bicause those dayes be more holy, but to the intent that in vvhat day soeuer vve meete, vve may reioyce to see one another. &c.

Augustine in lyke manner Lib. 18. de ciuitate Dei, cap. 27. sayth, That vve ho∣nor* 1.2 the memories of Martyrs, as of holy men, and suche as haue striuen for the truthe, euen to death. &c.

The same Augustine in his boke Contra Adamantum Manachaei Discip. ca. 16. expounding the woordes of the Apostle: Ye obserue dayes, yeares and tymes, wryteth thus. But one may thinke that he speaketh of the Sab∣both: do not vvee say that those tymes ought not to be obserued, but the thinges rather that are signified by them? for they did obserue them ser∣uilely, not vnderstanding vvhat they did signifie and prefigurate, this is that that the Apostle reproueth in thē, & in all those that serue the creature rather than the Creator: for vve also, solemnly celebrate the Sabboth day, and Easter, and all other festiuall dayes of Christians: but bycause vve vn∣derstand vvhervnto they do appertayne, we obserue not the times but those thinges vvhich are signified by the tymes, &c.

T. C Pag. 122. Sect. 1.

Nowe whereas M. Doctor citeth Augustine and Ierome to proue that in the Churches in theyr times, there were holy dayes kepte besides the Lordes day, he might haue also cyted Ignatius, and Tertullian, and Cyprian, which are of greater aunctencie, and would haue made more for the credite of his cause, seing he measureth all his truthe almoste through the whole booke, by the crooked measure and yarde of tyme. For it is not to be denied but this keeping of Holydayes (especially of the Easter and Pentecoste) are very auncient, and that these holydayes, for the remembraunce of Martyrs were vsed of long tyme, but these abuses were no auncienter than other were, grosser also than this was, as I haue before declared and were easie further to be shewed if neede required, and therefore (*) 1.3 I appeale from these examples to the Scriptures, and to the examples of the perfectest Churche that euer was, which was that in the Apostles tymes.

Io. Whitgifte.

I knowe that I might haue alleaged many other authorities for the proofe of* 1.4 this matter, but I thought these two sufficient (as they be in déede) in such a matter as this is, and your lightly reiecting of them will winne no credite to your cause, a∣mong wise and learned menne. You may easilie perceyue by the woordes of bothe these Authours that these dayes in their tyme were rightly and without all supersti∣tion vsed. But you do well to appeale from these examples, and from all other aun∣cient authoritie of learned menne: for you knowe full well your lacke of abilitie to maynteyne this and other your opinions by the testimonies of auncient wryters: nay you can not but confesse that the olde learned Fathers are vtterly agaynst you, which is the cause why you appeale from them: but it is an vnlearned shirt.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ierome.
• * 1.2

  Augustine.
• (*) 1.3

  An vnlearned shifte.
• * 1.4

  The Repliee appealeth itō auncient au∣thoritie.