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.

T. C. Pag. 138.. Sect. 1.

As though M. Doctor were at vtter defiaunce with all good order, and methode of writing,* 1.1 that which was giuen him orderly by the Admonition, he hath turned vpsidedowne. For where the Admonition speaketh first of the Elders, then of that which is annexed vnto them, which is the discipline (whereof excommunication is a part) considering that the subiect is in nature before that which is annexed vnto it, M. Doctor hath turned it cleane cōtrary, and first speaketh of excommu∣nication, and then of the Elders. I will therfore (that the reader may the easelier vnderstand that which is sayd) folow the order of the Admonition, and first of all speake of the Elders or Seniors which ought to be in the Churche, and in speaking of them, I muste call to remembrance that di∣uision which I made mention on before, that is, of those which haue care and gouerne the whole congregation, some there be which do bothe teach the worde and gouerne also: some which do not teache, but onely gouerne and be ayders in the gouernment, vnto those which do teache. This di∣uision is moste manifestly set forth in the Epistle vnto Timothe: where he sayeth, the Elders* 1.2 which rule well, are worthy of double honour, and especially those whiche labour in the worde and doctrine, where he maketh by playne and expresse wordes two sortes of Elders, the one whiche doth both gouerne and teache: the other which gouerneth onely. These therefore are the Seniors which are meant, whose office is in helping the Pastor or Bishop, in the gouernment of that par∣ticular Churche, where they be placed Pastors and Elders.

Io. Whitgifte.

It is no rare matter in handling any thing, first to entreate of that which is na∣tura posterius: and we sée it commonly so vsed by Logicians, who firste treate of that parte which is called Iudicium, then of the other which is called Inuentio, notwithstan∣ding Inuentio in nature is before Iudicium. But I will not spende incke and paper in answering so vayne a cauillation. The truth is, that I in mine Answere follow the order of the Admonition. For I proue that it was not the office of those Seniors to gouerne the Church, &c. bycause they had nothing to do with excōmunication being the chiefest discipline in the Church, seing the execution therof was committed to the Minister of the worde onely. So that I first take away authoritie frō their Seniors, & then answere the places which they abuse for the establishing of their authoritie.

My woordes be these: What Scripture haue you to proue that such Seniors as you meane, and Deacons had any thing to do in Eccle∣siasticall discipline? but all this is from the purpose. Your diuision of Seniors, though I know that it hath learned Patrones, yet do I not vnderstande howe it a∣greeth with the woorde of God: for if we consider the writinges of the Apostles, it will euidently appeare that Presbyter is vsually taken for Episcopus, or Minister, or Pa∣stor,* 1.3 as 1. Pet. 5. Presbyteros qui inter vos sunt bortor, qui sum & ipse Presbyter: &c. pascite. &c. The Elders which are among you, I besech, which am my selfe also an Elder. &c Feede the the flocke. &c. And in the Act. S. Paule calleth the same men Seniors and Bishops: and by Seniors meaneth none other than Bishops and Pastors, as it is euident in that place. Likewise ad Titum. 1. he sayeth, that Titus was lefte at Creta, vt con∣stituat

opidatim presbyteros, That he should appoynt Elders in euery citie. And declaring what qualities they ought to haue, he addeth: Oportet Episcopum immunem esse à crimi∣ne. &c. A Bishop must be vnreproueable: &c. Whereby it is manifest that he taketh them bothe for one.

The onely place that hath any shewe for the proofe of your distinction, is that,* 1.4 1. Tim. 5. Presbyteri qui bene praesunt, &c. The Elders that rule well are worthie double ho∣nour, specially they which labour in the worde and doctrine. Where although S. Paule maketh a distinction of Seniors, yet it is certayne, that vnder the name of Seniors, he doth comprehende such onely as be Ministers of the woorde or Sacra∣mentes.* 1.5 And I haue before sufficiently proued that the administration of the Sa∣cramentes may be committed to some, to whome the preachyng of the woorde of God is not committed. And this distinction of Ministers doth this place. 1. Timot. 5. very well iustifie: for vnlesse the Apostle S. Paule had ment, that of Ministers some preached, some onely ministred the Sacramentes, he woulde not haue sayde, Maximè qui laborant sermone & doctrina onely, but, qui laborant sermone & administratione Sacramentorum: for so shoulde he playnely haue declared that there were some Pre∣sbyteri whiche did neyther labour in Preaching, nor in the Administration of the Sacramentes. This same distinction of ministers is also iustified by that whiche the Apostle speaketh. 1. Corinth. 1. Non misit me Christus vt Baptizarem. &c. Mea∣ning* 1.6 bycause the worde was the greater, therefore he might not leaue the greater for the lesse. Nowe if all they that baptized had the gifte of preaching also, why might not and ought not they in like manner to say, Christe sent vs not to baptize, but to preach?

S. Ambrose writing vpon these woordes: Aduersus Presbyterum, &c. Agaynst an* 1.7 Elder receyue no accusation. &c. Which immediately follow the other, doth vnderstand thereby Ministers and Priestes onely, for he calleth them Vicarios Christi, Christes vi∣cars, and Antistites Dei: Gods Prelates. So doth M. Caluine in like manner expound* 1.8 the same woorde of Pastors, and Teachers. I know that in the exposition of this sen∣tence, Qui bene praesunt presbyteri, &c. he maketh two kindes of Seniors, but yet doth he Instit. Cap. 8. Sect. 52. (where he purposely speaketh of Seniors) say that they were all preachers. Neyther do I sée any cause, why this woorde Presbyter shoulde not in both these places be taken in one and the same signification. Chrysostome also (if* 1.9 his woordes be well marked) vpon this place of Timoth. Presbyteri qui bene praesunt, &c. it will appeare that he doth not extende this woorde Presbyter to any other, than to Ministers of the woorde and Sacramentes.

The woordes of Ierome be playne, for expounding these woordes, Maximè qui la∣borant* 1.10 &c. He sayeth thus: Non dixit omnium qui habent verbum, sed qui laborant in verbo: Caeterùm omnes habentes praecipit ordinare. He sayeth not of all that haue the worde, but that labour in the worde: But he commaunded him to ordeyne, all that haue the worde. And surely I haue not read this woorde in any auncient Historie or Father, commonly taken in any other signification.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Of Seni∣ors.
• * 1.2

  1. Tim. 5.
• * 1.3

  Presbyter v∣sually taken for a minister. 1. Pet. 5. Act. 20. Tit. 1.
• * 1.4

  Two kindes of Presbyteri. 1. Tim. 5.
• * 1.5

  Tract. 9. cap. 1. the. 15. diuisiō. & Tract. 6. Cap. 1.
• * 1.6

  1. Cor. 1.
• * 1.7

  Ambrose. 1. Tim. 5.
• * 1.8

  Caluin. in. 1. Tim. 5.
• * 1.9

  Chrysost.
• * 1.10

  Ierome.