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.

Ansvvere to the Admonition. Pag. 161. Sect. 2. 3.

For reading ministers you bid vs viewe these places. Mala. 2. vers. 7. Esay. 56. 10. Zachar. 11. 15. Matth. 15. 14. 1. Timoth. 3. 3. The Pro∣phete Malachie in the seconde chapter, and seuenth verse, sayeth on this sorte: For the Priestes lippes shoulde preserue knovvledge, and they shoulde seeke the lavve at his mouthe. For he is the messenger of the Lord of hostes. In whiche wordes the Prophete doth signifie, that the Priestes ought to be learned in the lawe and able to instruct, which no man denieth, and if there be any crepte into the ministerie, whiche a〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 not able so to do, it is to be ascribed, eyther to the negligence of t〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 Bishop, and such as haue to do therein, or to the necessitie of the* 1.1 t〈1 line〉〈1 line〉me. But here is nothing spoken agaynst reading, for any thing that I can gather: and if any man shoulde come vnto me, and de∣maunde of me, any question touching the lawe of God, I thinke I shoulde better satisfie him, if I did reade the wordes of the lawe vn∣to him, than if I should make a long tedious discourse of myne owne, to litle or no purpose. It is the worde it selfe that pearceth and mo∣u〈1 line〉〈1 line〉th the conscience.

I speake not this agaynst interpreting of the Scriptures, or prea∣ching* 1.2 (for I know they be both necessary) but agaynst such as be e∣nimies to the reading of them.

The places in the. 56. of Esay, and in the eleuenth of zacharie, tende to the same purpose, they all speake agaynst ignorant, foolish, slouthfull gouernours and pastours, there is nothing in them that condemneth or disaloweth readyng of the Scriptures, or reading of Prayers: No more is there in the fiftenth of Matthew, nor. 1. Ti∣mo. 3. reade the places and you shal soone see, with how litle iudge∣ment they be quoted agaynst such ministers, as vse to reade the scrip∣tures and prayers to the people. If you had sayde agaynst dumbe & vnlearned ministers, viewe these places, you had sayde something.* 1.3 For reading ministers that is, for reading the Scriptures publikely in the church by ministers, view you these places. 1. Tim. 4. Til I come

giue attendance to readyng, to exhortation, to doctrine. In the whiche wordes as Musculus sayeth: Exprimit ordinem Ecclesiasticum, quo primùm ex* 1.4 sacris Scripturis aliquid legebatur, deinde exhortatio & doctrina subijciebatur. He expres∣seth the Ecclesiasticall order, vvherein firste there is some thing reade out of the Scriptures, then follovveth exhortation and doctrine. Luke. 4. Where wee learne that Christe beyng at Nazareth, as his custome* 1.5 was, wente into the Sinagogue on the Saboth day, and stoode vp to reade. &c.

And yet you saye, Reading is not feedyng, but it is as euill as play∣ing* 1.6 vpon a stage, and vvorse to, for players yet learne theyr partes vvith∣out booke and these a many of them, can scarcely reade vvithin booke.

That reading is feedyng, Musculus giueth these reasons: Firste,* 1.7 bycause it maketh the people experte and cunning, in the Scrip∣tures, so that they can not be so easily deceyued with false teachers. And therefore Iosephus Lib. 2. contra Appion. speakyng of this commoditie of hauing the Scriptures read, sayeth on this sorte: In vnaquaque septi∣mana ad legem audiendam conueniunt vniuersi. Nostrorum quilibet de legibus interrogatus, fa∣cilius quam nomen suum recitat. vniuersas quippe mox à primo sensu discentes in animo velut in∣scriptas habemus. Euery vveeke all the people come togither to heare the Lavve. Euery one of vs demaunded any question of the lavve, can an∣svvere readily, as he can tell his ovvne name. For vvee learnyng the lavve euen from our youth, haue it, as it vvere vvritten in our memorie.

Secondly the publike reading of the Scripture, is good for such as can not reade themselues: to suche likewise as can reade, but yet haue not the bookes of the holy Scripture at home in their houses.

Thirdly, it maketh the people better to vnderstande the Ser∣mons preached vnto them: bycause through the continuall hearing of the Scriptures read, they be acquainted with the wordes and phrases of the same.

Last of all, it may be that some men be more edified by the sim∣ple reading of the scriptures, than by sermons.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Reading is profitable.
• * 1.2

  Pag. 162. Sect. 1. 2.
• * 1.3

  For Reading ministers. 1. Tim. 4.
• * 1.4

  Musculus.
• * 1.5

  Christe read the scripture.
• * 1.6

  Pag. 163, Lin. 2. & Sect. 1. 2. 3. 4.
• * 1.7

  Reading is feeding. Musculus.