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. 3. Diuision.

T. C. Pag. 140. Sect. 1.

In deede if so be the Auncientes in the time of persecution, & vnder a tyrant, had medled with any office of a magistrate, or had supplied the roome of a godly magistrate, in handling of any of those things whych belonged vnto him, then there had bene some cause why a godly magistrate beeing i〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 the churche, the office of the Senior, or at the least so muche as he exercised of the office of a magi∣strate, should haue ceased. But when as the auncient neyther dyd, nor by any maner might meddle with those things which belonged vnto a magistrate, no more vnder a tyrante, than vnder a godly magistrate, there is no reason why the magistrate entring into the churche, the elder shoulde be therefore thrust out. (*) 1.1 For the Elders office was to admonish seuerally, those that did amisse, to comforte those which he sawe weake and shaking, and to haue neede of comforte, to assist the Pa∣stor in ecclesiasticall censures of reprehensions, sharper or mylder, as the faultes required, also to assiste in the suspentions from the supper of the Lorde, vntill some triall were had of the repentance of that partie which had confessed him self to haue offended, or else if he remayned stubborne, to assist him in the excommunication. These were those things which the Elder dyd, which for so muche as they may do as well vnder a christian magistrate, as vnder a tyrant, as well in the time of peace, as in the time of persecution, it followeth that as touching the office of Elders, there is no distinctiō in the times of peace and persecution, of a christian Prince, and of a tyrant.

Io. Whitgifte.

I would gladly know by what place of scripture you can i〈1 line〉〈1 line〉stifie this office that you* 1.2 héere appoynt vnto Seniors. In so weightie a matter in my iudgement you shoulde haue done well to haue vsed some authoritie of scripture, or other auncient wryter. The Admonition sayth, that the office of Seniors was to gouerne the Church with the rest of the ministers, to consult, to admo〈1 line〉〈1 line〉sh, to correct, & to order all things apperteyning to the state of the congregation: Which if it be true, I pray you what authoritie remayneth to the ciuill Magistrate in ecclesiasticall and Churche matters? In d〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ede if you make such a distinction betwixt the Church & the cōmon wealth, the ci〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ill Magistrate & the eccle∣siasticall, as you do throughout your whole booke, it is no mar〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ell though you thinke* 1.3 the office of Seniors to be perpetuall. For you giue no more authoritie to a Christian Magistrate in ecclesiasticall gouernment, thā you would do to the Turke, if you were vnder him. And therfore according to your platforme, the gouernment of the Church is all one vnder a christian Magistrate, and vnder the great Turke. But to l〈1 line〉〈1 line〉aue the Admonition: what haue you spoken of the office of Seniors, which is not eyther pro∣per to the Pastor, or cōmon to all Christians, or such as may be much better brought to passe, by the authoritie of the ciuill Magistrate, than by the ignorance, simplicitie, and rudenesse of the most of your Seniors? But first let vs heare more of your 〈◊〉〈◊〉 before we come to vtter the absurditie of your cause.

Notes

• (*) 1.1

  Where finde you this in all the scriptures
• * 1.2

  The office as∣cri〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ed to Se∣niors, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉∣gistrate o〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 his authoriti〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 in ecclesiasticall matters.
• * 1.3

  No more au∣thoriti〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ed to a ch〈1 line〉〈1 line〉i∣stian Magi∣strate, tha〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 t〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 the Turke.