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.

Admonition.

The third. The Nicene creede was not read in their communion, we haue it in ours.

Ansvvere Pag. 95. Sect. 3.

The Nicene Creede and euery parte of it is grounded vppon the* 1.1 worde of God, it was collected by that famous Councell of Nice, to confounde that detestable heresie of the Arrians, and therefore meete to be reade in all Christian congregations, neyther can any mislyke it, but Arrians and suche lyke, of the whiche secte you gyue iust suspitions that you bee fautors. This Creede in thys forme was not framed in the Apostles tyme, bycause the heresie of Arrius was not then hatched. And therefore no good reason to say it was not read in the Apostles tyme at the communion: Ergo it ought not to be read now. But thys argumente is intollerable, the Nicene Creede is read at the communion, therefore the com∣munion is not sincerely ministred. All these three reasons be taken ab authoritate negatiuè: and therefore of no force, excepte wee wyll also graunte these to bee true, and suche lyke, scilicet,

Then they had no Christian Princes, and therefore we maye haue no Christian Princes. Then they had no ciuill or politike lawes, Ergo we ought to haue none. Then the Churche had no externall peace, but was vnder persecution, Ergo it should haue no peace now. Then Christians had proprietie in nothing, but all thinges were common: Ergo no man may haue any thing of his owne, but common to other: we do not reade expressely, that Children were then bap∣tised, therefore they ought not to be baptised now (for so do the Ana∣baptists reason) neyther do we reade that women did then receiue the supper, therefore they ought not to do it now: with infinite other as absurd as these.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Nicene Creede.