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.

Io. Whitgifte.

I do indéed speake of this matter there againe after a sort: for I am driuen vnto it by the order of the Admonition. But in all those words there by me vttered, touching excōmunicatiō, I do not once aske, what maketh this, or what maketh that (as you charge me) although I might iustly vse these kinde of questions, as sufficient answeres, to such vnskilfull quotations, as they paint theyr margent with: and somtimes indéed I make such demaundes, but it is to shewe the fondnesse of their allegations.

I defende no Chauncelors. &c. that vsurpe any office, wherevnto they be not lawfully called, but I woulde not haue the Scriptures abused to confute them, least thereby (séeing the weaknesse of our reasons) they be animated rather to procéede, than perswaded to leaue of. I doe not thinke that Chauncellours ought to excom∣municate (with this kinde of excommunication, that wée talke of) except they bée Ministers, and so muche haue I vttered in my Answere: but I will not disquiet the Church for it, by séeking reformation extraordinarily, neyther will I bée wil∣full, if I can heare any sounde reasons to remoue me from this perswasion:

wherfore you doe in this cause, and in this place vniustly charge me.

The place in the eightéenth of Sainct Mathew, is vnderstāded of those, to whom the discipline of the Churche, is by the authoritie of the Churche committed, that is in this churche of Englande, the Bishop. And therfore that place can not proue that there is any iniurie done to the Pastor, or that hée is spoyled of his lawful: iurisdiction: and this is the effect of my answere, whereat you only cauill as your nature is.

I saye in déede that this place was before alleaged in the Admonition to proue that the whole Churche shoulde excommunicate, and not one man onely, and therefore I sée not, howe the same place maye aptly bée alleadged, to proue anye iurisdiction of the Pastor ouer his flocke, séeyng it gyueth to the flocke equall iuris∣diction with the Pastor, and not to the Pastor any superioritie ouer them, if the interpretation vsed in the Admonition be true.

Let the Reader consider the wordes of my Answere to the Admonition: and trie whether there be any suche absurdities in them or no. Surely it is a fault both in you and the Admonitors, to make the Scripture so pliable to your fansies, and the same place to serue as many turnes as you lyst.