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. 1. the. 2. Diuision.

Admonition.

In steade of Chancelours, Archdeacons, Officialls, Commissaries, Proctors, Doctors, sum∣moners, Churchwardens and such lyke, you haue to place in euery congregation a lawfull and godly Seigniorie.

Ansvvere to the Admonition. Pag. 125. Sect. 1.

But I pray you do thus much for me, first proue that there was* 1.1 in euery cōgregation such as you call Seniors: when you haue done that, thē shew me that that office & kind of regimēt ought to be per∣petuall,

and not rather to be altered according to the state and condi∣tion of the Churche: last of all, that those Seniors were lay men as we call them, and not rather ministers of the worde, and Bishops. When you haue satisfied my request in these three pointes, then wil I proceede further in this matter.

T. C. Pag. 138. In the midst.

Now that it is knowne what these Seniors be, in entreating of them I am contēt to answere M. Doctor three requestes which he maketh in the, 125. page, where he desireth that one would do so much for him, as first to shewe that these Seniors were in euery congregation: secondarily, he will haue it proued that this regiment is perpetuall, and not to be altered: last of all, he desireth to know, whether these Seniors werelay men, and not rather ministers of the worde and Bishops. This last is a fonde request, and such as is already answered, but he muste be followed.

For the first therefore, which is that there were Seniors in euery congregation, although M. Doctor in the. 114. page, & in the. 132. page cōstrayned by Ambrose authoritie, confesseth it in plaine wordes, yet bycause he requireth it to be shewed and maketh a iest at those places, which are allea∣ged out of the scripture to proue it, some thing must be spoken thereof.

Io. Whitgifte.

You builde your platforme vpon marueylous slender proofes, & except the Reader will beleue your bare woordes, he shal finde great scarcitie of any other argumentes. For where haue you as yet proued your opinion of Seniors to be true? The place of S. Paule. 1. Tm. 5 doth not helpe you, being otherwise taken & expoūded of the aunciēt fathers: but I will follow your rase. The last question you say is fond & already answered: Answered as yet it is not, and the fondnesse of it will appeare, by the wisedome of your answere hereafter.

The woordes of Ambrose be, that the Synagogue, & after the church, had Seniors. &c.* 1.2 but he sayeth not that euery seuerall congregation had Seniors: for it was not so a∣mong the Iewes. Therefore it cannot be gathered of Ambrose, that euery particular parish had Seniors. Neyther is there any auncient Author that affirmeth it. Tou∣ching the hauing of Seniors in the Church, why it was then conuenient, and is not so now, I haue declared in the Answere to the Admonition.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Certaine que∣stions deman̄∣ded to be pro∣ued.
• * 1.2

  in 1. Tim. 5.