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. Somevvhat past the midest.

The first place is in the Actes, which is that Paule & Barnabas did appoynt by election. El∣ders* 1.1 in euery congregation, but it is (*) 1.2 not like they did appoynt diuerse ministers or Bishops, which preached in euery congregation, which were not to be had for such a number of congregati∣ons as were then to be preached vnto: therefore in euery congregation there were besides those that preached, other Elders which did onely in gouernment assist the pastors which preached. And what should we folow coniectures here, when S. Paule doth in the place before alleaged declare,* 1.3 what these elders are?

Io. Whitgifte.

If you haue no stronger place to cōfirme your Seniors by, than this, they will fall* 1.4 flat to the ground. For it is most certayne that Luke in this place by Presbyteros, doth only meane Pastors and Preachers of the woorde, as he doth also through the whole Actes speaking of Christians: and it is a straunge matter that you dare be bolde to grounde any point of gouernment or doctrine vpon so simple & slender coniectures. For what reason call you this: Paule & Barnabas did appoynt by election elders in euery congregation. &c. but it is not lyke they did appoint diuerse ministers or Bishops which preached in euery congregation, &c. therefore in euery congregation there were besides those that preached, other elders, &c. First I say, that this argument doth consist only vpō a vaine cōiecture, for it might be that the number of Preachers were suche, that euery congregation where Paule & Barnabas had to do, might haue mo preachers than one. But Lorde what moueth you, to play the Sophister in so serious a cause? & so to dally in a mat∣ter so manifest? for how can you conclude by any thing here spoken, that Paule and Barnabas did ordeyne mo than one Pastor or Presbyter in one congregation? for this that is sayde, that they ordeyned Elders or ministers in euery congregation, doth not im∣porte

that they ordeyned mo than one, in euery congregation, but that they ordeyned for diuers congregations, diuerse ministers, that is, for euery congregation a Pastor. Doth not the Apostle S. Paule ad Tit. 1. vse the like kinde of speache when he sayde* 1.5 vnto him, For this cause I left thee at Creta, &c. Vt constituas opidatim presbyteros, &c? Where it is manifest, as I sayde before, that he meaneth Bishops and Pastors: and yet his intent was not that Titus should appoynt for euery congregation many Pa∣stors. This is méere cauilling: but to cut of all other doubtes, M. Caluine is sufficient to determine this controuersie, who expounding this place of the. 14. Acto. doth vnder∣stand it of Pastors only & Preachers. His woordes be these: Presbyteros bic vocari inter∣pretor,* 1.6 quibus iniunctum erat docendi munus. I interprete those here to be called Presbyteros, vnto whome the office of preaching was committed. And a litle after: Now whereas Luke sayth that they were appoynted ouer seuerall churches, thereof may the difference betwene their office and the office of the Apostles be gathered, for the Apostles had in no place any certayne abiding, but went from place to place alwayes to found new churches: but Pastors were euery where addicted to their proper Churches. So saith Brentius likewise: Consti∣tuerunt* 1.7 per singulas Ecclesias Presbyteros, quos aliàs scriptura Episcopos, aliàs Pastores vocat. They appoynted thorough euery congregation Elders, whom the scripture sometimes calleth Bi∣shops, sometimes Pastors. So that this place of the Actes speaketh not one woorde of your Seniors. And therefore you cannot expound it by that in the. 1. Tim. 5. though it serued your purpose, as it doth not. For Luke (to my remembrance) no where in the Actes, doth take this woorde Presbyter for any other than such as haue authoritie, to preach the worde & minister the sacramēts, except he meaneth y^e elders of the Iewes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Act. 14.
• (*) 1.2

  A 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.3

  1. Tim. 9.
• * 1.4

  The place Actes. 14. proueth no∣thing for Se∣niors.
• * 1.5

  Tit. 1.
• * 1.6

  Caluine.
• * 1.7

  Brentius.