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. 17. Diuision.

T. C. Pag. 149. tovvardes the ende.

And that the Auncientes had the ordering of these thyngs, and the peoples consente was required, and that if the case were a verie difficulte case, it was referred vnto the Synodes or Councells, and that the ministers dyd not take vpon them of theyr owne authoritie to excom∣municate, and that those whych did receyue the excommunicate without the knowledge and con∣sent* 1.1 of the churche were reprehended, it maye appeare almoste in euerie page of Cyprians Epi∣stles, and namely in these, whiche I haue noted in the margent.

Io. Whitgifte.

Thus you driue me to séeke that whyche in those Epistles by you quoted, I can not fynde, howe muche better dealing had it bin to haue sette downe the wordes of Cyprian, that they myght haue ben viewed and considered.

In the. 8. Epistle of the thirde booke, Cyprian doth fynde himselfe gréened with one Therapius, bycause he gaue peace to one Uictor a Priest, before he had shewed himselfe fully repentant, and had satisfied for his offence: before also the tyme was come appoynted vnto hym to make satisfaction, lykewyse without the request and knowledge of the people. Whereby it appeareth that Therapius did absolue Ui∣ctor before the tyme appointed, and secretly withoute the knowledge of the peo∣ple: but this proueth not your purpose. Therapius is iustly reproued for breaking the order appoynted by the Churche, and for absoluyng Uictor before his tyme, and in a corner, without the knowledge of the people: but this proueth not that the Byshoppe maye not excommunicate: but the contrarie rather, for Cyprian in the ende thoughte this absolution to be sufficiente, as it appeareth in these wor∣des. But weyghing the matter by long aduise, it seemed sufficiente to chyde our fellowe* 1.2 Therapius, for that he didde this thyng vnaduisedlye, and to haue instructed hym that hereafter he committe not the lyke. But yet we thought not good to withdraw the peace whyche was once giuen, (howesoeuer) of a Priest of God: and for this cause wee haue permitted vnto Victor, to vse the Communion deliuered vnto hym. Whereby it is manyfeste, that the absolution of Therapius was thoughte good, and that he had authoritie to absolue alone, but that it was done not according to the order then in the churche appointed.

In the tenth Epistle there is nothyng spoken of Excommunication or absolu∣tion:* 1.3 onely Cyprian sayeth, that he made no answere to the Letters of Donatus and Nouatus, and Gordius, bycause at his fyrste entraunce into his Bishopryke, hée had determined to doe nothing without their Councell, meanyng the Priestes, and Deacons to whome he writ, and withoute the consente of the people. What can you conclude hereof touchyng excommunication? Cyprian here sheweth him selfe to haue iurisdiction ouer other Churches, and authoritie ouer other Mini∣sters, and that he wyll doe nothing in doubtfull matters in theyr churches, without the consent of the ministers and people. But this is nothing toiuchng excōmunica∣tion, neyther dothe it proue but that he myghte doe thynges without theyr con∣sentes, for why shoulde he else saye: statui: I haue determined: signifying therby, that it was in his power to do otherwyse if he woulde.

In the. 14. Epistle he reproueth certayne Priestes, for receyuyng into the church* 1.4

without the consent of their Bishop, suche as had fallen in the tyme of persecution, and that before they had any iust tryall of their repentance, adding that none ought so to be receiued, but Per manus impositionem Episcopi & Cleri: by the imposition of the handes of the Bishop and Cleargie. I can not sée any thyng in this Epistle, that giueth the people any interest in excommunicating or absoluyng. But this is euidently to be collected out of it, that no suche thyng ought to be doone withoute the authoritie of the Bishop.

In the. 19. Epistle he wryteth, that he will not take vpon himselfe alone to re∣store* 1.5 those to the Churche agayne, who falling in the tyme of persecution, were con∣demned by the iudgement of al the Cleargie. I knowe not howe you wyll frame this to your purpose: for who euer denyed but that the Synodes mighte excommu∣nicate? and who will graunt, that suche as be orderly and lawfully excommunica∣ted by manie, shoulde be absolued and reconciled onely by one: and yet in that they desyre this at Cyprians hands alone, it argueth, that the manner was at that tyme for one man to absolue: but Cyprian refused to doe it, for that it was a com∣mon cause, and they hadde bin Excommunicated by the common consente of the Cleargie.

In the thirde Epistle of his fyrste Booke, I fynde nothing that maketh for you, or against me, wherfore you must take the paines to recite his wordes, before you* 1.6 can deserue any credite. Thus whylest you would séeme to saye muche, you doe but abuse the Reader, and in the ende saye nothing perteining to the controuersie.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Lib. 3. ep. 8. 10. 14. 19. 1. lib. 3. ep.
• * 1.2

  Lib. 3. epi. 8.
• * 1.3

  Epist. 10.
• * 1.4

  Epist. 14.
• * 1.5

  Epist. 9.
• * 1.6

  Lib. 1. epist. 3.