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. 3. Diuision.

T. C. Page. 133. Lin. 16.

And if this be to gratisie the Papists, to shewe that they ought not to be compelled to receyue the supper of the Lorde, as long as they continue in their Popery, I am well contente to shewe them thys pleasure, so that bothe they and you forget not what I haue before sayde, (*) 1.1 that the Magistrate ought to compell them to heare the worde of God, and if they profite not, nor wyth suffycient teaching correct not them selues, that then they shoulde be punyshed. And if you doe aske why they should be more cōpelled vnto y^e sermons, than vnto the supper of the Lord, or why they are not as wel to be admitted vnto the one as vnto the other: you see y^e like done in the sacra∣ment of baptisme, whiche may not be ministred vnto all to whome the worde may be preached.

The reason also is at hande, for the preaching of the worde of God to the Papistes, is an of∣fer of the grace of God, whiche maye be made to those whiche are straungers from God, but the ministring of the holy sacraments vnto them is a declaration and seale of Gods fauour and re∣conciliation with them, and a playne preaching, partly that they be washed already from theyr sinnes, partly that they are of the housholde of God, and suche as the Lorde wyll feede to eter∣nall lyfe, whiche is not lawfull to be done to those, whiche are not of the housholde of fayth. And therefore I conclude, that the compelling of Papistes vnto the Communion, and the dismissing and letting of them goe, when as they be to be punished, for their stubbornesse in Poperie (wyth this condition if they wyll receyue the Communion) is very vnlawfull, when as althoughe they would receyue it, yet they ought to be kepte backe, vntyll suche tyme as by their religious and gos∣pellike behauiour, they haue purged them selues of that suspition of Poperie, whiche their former life and conuersation hath caused to be conceyued.

Io. Whitgifte.

This is directly contrarie to that which you before affirmed, page. 118. For there* 1.2 you saye, that those whiche are not meete to receyue the holy sacrament of the Supper, are not meete to heare the worde of God: if they be meete for the one, they be meete for the other, and that with what lawfulnesse they may offer them selues to the prayers, and to the hearing of the worde of God, they may also offer them selues to the Lordes supper, and to whome so euer of them the Lorde will cōmunicate him selfe by preaching the worde, vnto the same he will not refuse to cōmu∣nicate him selfe by receyuing of the Sacraments. These be your wordes there, and nowe

you sing another song, going about to proue, that the Magistrate may and oughte to com∣pell those to the hearing of the worde, who are not meete to be receyued to the Lordes sup∣per. Surely this is great inconstancie, but I agree with you in this place, and I* 1.3 haue before declared the vntruthe of your assertion in the other place. This onely I muste let you vnderstande, that when I speake of compelling eyther Papistes or other to the communion, I doe not meane that they persisting in their wycked∣nesse and errours, should be constrayned to come to the Lordes supper, but that all ordinarie meanes of perswasion béeing vsed, if they styll continue in their stubbor∣nesse, and refuse to communicate with vs, suche discipline shoulde be vsed towardes them, as is conuenient for their wilfulnesse and contempt of the truthe.

Your selfe before, pag. 117. sayde, that suche as wythdrawe them selues from the Com∣munion,* 1.4 shoulde bothe by ecclesiasticall discipline, and ciuil punishment be brought to communicate wyth their brethren, the same doe I affirme also. But the Authors of the Admonition saye, that this is to dryue men in their synnes to the Lordes supper, and therefore page. 1〈1 line〉〈1 line〉9, they woulde neyther haue Papistes nor other constrayned to communicate in the mysteries of* 1.5 saluation: meaning (as I thinke) that they would haue no correction nor discipline (for that is to compell) vsed agaynst suche as refuse to communicate. I thinke in déede the especiall quarell is their owne, bicause they haue separated them selues from the Churche, and woulde not be constrayned to communicate with vs, but they make their doctrine generall, therby to cloke their intent. Wherefore whether they do it to gratifie the Papists, or no, it may be doubted, but certayne it is that the Papists could not haue had better Proctours.

Notes

• (*) 1.1

  You sayd be∣fore, that if they be not meete to receyue the cō munion, neyther are they meete to heare the worde Pag 118. Sect. 1.
• * 1.2

  Pag. 118. sect. 1
• * 1.3

  Men persi∣sting in wic∣keanesse and errours are not to be com∣pelled.
• * 1.4

  The Replye〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 agreeth not with the 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉∣monition.
• * 1.5

  The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 would haue no〈1 line〉〈1 line〉e cō∣pe〈1 line〉〈1 line〉led to com∣municate.