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 first Diuision.

T. C. Pag. 139. Sect. 2.

I come therefore to the seconde poynte, wherein the question especially lyeth, whiche is, whe∣ther this function be perpetuall, and ought to remayne alwayes in the Churche. And it is to be obserued by the waye, that whereas there are dyuers sorts of aduersaries to this discipline o〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 the Church, M. Doctor is amongst the worste. For there be that saye, that thys order maye be vsed or not vsed nowe, at the lybertie of the Churches: But M. Doctor sayth that thys order is not for these times, but onely for those tymes when there were no Christian Magistrates, and so dothe flatly pynche at those Churches, whiche hauing Christian Magistrates, yet notwith∣standing reteyne this order still.

Io. Whitgifte.

I say so still, and I am able to defende my saying, agaynst al that you haue shewed to the contrarie. And yet do I not pinche at any Church that vseth it (if there be any such) so that they haue the consent of the ciuill Magistrate, who may if he will depart from his right, & abridge himself of the authoritie cōmitted vnto him by God. But he néede not so do except he list: and whether it be wel done or no, I will not determine: this I am well assured of, that in a Monarchie, & in a kingdome such as this Realme of England is, it can not be practised, without vntollerable contention, & extreme confu∣sion: except you could deuise to make euery seueral parish a kingdome within it selfe,

and exempt it from all ecclestastical & ciuill iurisdiction, of Prince, Prelate, & whom∣soeuer? which vndoubtedly may séeme to be your séeking, as will appeare hereafter.