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.

Secondly, they require a promise of the Godfathers and Godmothers, (as they terme them) whiche is not in (k 1.1) their powers to perfourme. We saye nothing of those that are admit∣ted to be witnesses, what ill choyce there is made of them.

Ansvvere to the Admonition. Pag. 191. Sect. 1. 2.

The seconde thing you mislyke is, that wee requyre a promise of the* 1.2 Godfathers, and Godmothers, which is not in theyr powers to perfourme: to this ca∣uillation I haue answered before, and haue declared bothe out of Dionysius Areopagita, and August. why they answere so in the in∣fantes name, and why they make that promise, whiche I thinke they performe sufficiently, if they pretermit nothing that lieth in them to the perfourmance thereof: and so sayeth Dionysius, for such promises are not made absolutely, but Quantum in nobis est. So much as lieth in vs.

To proue that it is not in the Godfathers to perfourme that which they promise, you quote the saying of S. Paule to the Rom. cap. 7. vers. 15. I allovv not that vvhich I do, for vvhat I vvoulde that I do not, but vvhat I hate, that I do. And vers. 18. For I knovve that in me, that is, in my fleshe, dvvelleth no good thing, for to vvill is present vvith me, but I finde no meanes. &c. And vers. 21. I finde then by the lavve, that vvhen I vvoulde do good, euill is present vvith me. In all these places* 1.3 the Apostle declareth, that infirmities remayne euen in the fayth∣full by reason of the fleshe, and that they can not come to suche

perfection in this lyfe, as they doe desyre. But howe doe these places proue, that Godfathers are not able to perfourme that which they promise for the infant? Truely these proofes are to farre fet∣ched for my vnderstanding. In the ninth to the Romaines, the A∣postle sayth, That it is not in him that vvilleth, nor in him that runneth, but in God that shevveth mercie. In the which wordes he sheweth, that the cause of our election is not in our selues, but in the mercie of God. But what is this to the promise of Godfathers made at the baptising of Infantes? If you woulde haue a man to promise no∣thing but that which is in his power to perfourme, then must you simplie condemne all promises made by man, for there is nothing in his power to perfourme, no not mouing of his foote, not comming to dinner or supper. &c. Therefore as all other promises bee made* 1.4 with these secrete conditions, if God will, so muche as lyeth in mee, to the vttermoste of my power, if I lyue. &c. So is the pro∣mise in baptisme made, by the Godfathers likewise.

Notes

• k 1.1

  Rom. 7. 15. 18. 21. Rom. 9. 16.
• * 1.2

  The promise of the Godfa∣thers restray∣ned to theyr power.
• * 1.3

  Infirmities be in all men.
• * 1.4

  Conditionall promises.