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. 16. Diuision.

T. C. Pag. 149. past the middst.

But I come to shewe the vse of the primitiue Churche in this matter, wherof we haue a ma∣nifeste* 1.1 testimonie in Tertullian. If (sayeth he) there be any whiche haue committed suche a* 1.2 saulte, that he is to be put awaye from the partaking of the prayer of the churche, and from all holie matters or affayres, there doe beare rule or be presidentes certayne of the moste approued auncientes or elders, which haue obteyned this honour, not by money, but by good reporte.

Io. Whitgifte.

Here you haue separated those things whiche Tertullian hath ioyned, and you ioyne together in one sentence that whiche Tertullian hath separated, for thus hée writeth: And it is a greate argumente and example of the latter iudgement, if any man* 1.3 hath so offended that hee is banished from the communication of prayer, of companie, and of all holie affaires. Here Tertullian maketh a full poynte: and beginning a newe sentence he sayth: Approued seniors haue authoritie to rule, which haue obteined this honour, not by money, but by a good reporte. &c. And these wordes be so distin∣guished from the other, that B. Rhenanus placeth his commentarie betwixte them. And yet you ioyne them with a péece of the former sentence, whiche you haue al∣so mangled: and so make as though Tertullian shoulde saye, that these Seniors didde excommunicate, where as there can no suche matter be gathered of his wor∣des. For there were other poyntes of Discipline for them to execute, and other matters of gouernmente to looke vnto. And he that shall well weigh the wordes of Tertullian, shall perceyue that he meaneth by these approued elders, none o∣ther but ministers whiche do gouerne the congregation, when they come together to prayer, and other holie actions, the whole order wherof, he dothe in that place describe.

But be it, that they had to do also in excommunication (which I will not denye) for I did neuer so giue the authoritie of excommunicating to the Bishop alone, that* 1.4 I thinke he may not haue other assistance ioyned vnto him for the execution of it, (if the order of the Churche so require:) yet this proueth not, but that the Bishop maye excommunicate alone, if that authoritie be giuen vnto hym by the order of the churche. This place rather maketh agaynst you, for fyrste it is lyke, that these Seniors were ministers of the woorde and Sacramentes: then it is certayne that the multitude hadde not to doe in the execution of thys Disciplyne, whyche you laboure to prooue. There canne no greate certaynetie bée gathered

of this place, whether one or moe did excommunicate: excepte you will also con∣clude that Churchewardens and sydemen (bycause they be officers to see good rule kept in the Churche) haue interest in excommunications, together wyth the By∣shop. Wherefore I doe requyre a more manyfeste proofe of you: For thys place maye wyth more probabilitie be otherwyse expounded, and therefore enforceth nothyng.

Notes

• * 1.1

  This place of Tertullian is ve∣rie corruptly al∣leaged. as will appeare▪
• * 1.2

  Tertull. in Apol. 39. c.
• * 1.3

  Tertull. in A∣polog. cap. 39.
• * 1.4

  The Bishop may haue assi∣stance ioyned with hym.