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.

M. Caluine speaking of the wordes of Christ, Math. 18. wherein I am sure you will haue the same order of gouernmēt to be expressed, that is in this place of Math. 5. doth make great differēce betwixt the order there prescribed by Christ, & that practised by the Apostle. 1. Cor. 5. bicause in that place, Christ committeth the matter to a few, & in this place the Apostle séemeth to commit it to the whole multitude. M. Caluines words be these, A question may be asked what he meaneth by the name of the Churche: for Paule* 1.1 commaundeth the incestuous Corinthian to be excōmunicated not of any chosen number, but of the whole company of the godly: wherfore it is probable that here the iudgement is committed to the whole people: But bicause then as yet there was no church which profes∣sed Christ, neither any such order appointed, and the Lord speaketh according to the vsuall and receiued custome: There is no doubt, but that he alludeth vnto the order of the olde church, as also in other places, he frameth his talke according to the knowen and vsuall man∣ner. So that, that excommunication vsed in the churche of the Corinthians, can in no respect be the practise of the rule of Christ in either of the places, neither yet according vnto it: wherefore you write without iudgement, you wote not what.

S. Paule did publikely excommunicate in the presence of the whole churche, and vsed them as witnesses of his iust dealing: but his wordes be playne that the right & power of excommunication remained in him selfe.

When S. Paule sayth vnto the Corinthians, Expurgate vetus fermentum. &c. purge out the olde leauen, he speaketh not of the incostuous Corinthian, but exhorteth them* 1.2 to newnes of life: you shall heare howe M. Caluine expoundeth that place: Bicause he had borowed a similitude of leauen, he reteyneth it still: although he doth digresse from the* 1.3 matter which he hath in hande vnto a generall doctrine, for he speaketh no more of the in∣cestuous persone, but generally exhorteth them vnto puritie of life. &c.

Lorde howe carelesse you are in peruerting the true sense and meaning of the scrip∣ture, that you may violently drawe them to your purpose.

When he sayth: Put away that wicked man from among you, he doth not will them to excommunicate him, but to shunne and auoyde his company, and not to suffer him to come among them bycause he was excommunicate. And as he in this place moueth them to a detestation of him, so in that place of the second Cor. 2. after his repentance &

receiuing again into the churche, he exhorteth them to embrace him and to loue him This may and ought to be done, the authoritie of excommunication resting in one, for the people without such exhortations will hardly conceiue a good opinion of hym whom they haue knowen to be so greuous an offendour.

Wherefore the Apostle here moueth them to forgiue him, & to loue him: he doth not giue them any authoritie to deliuer him from the bonde of excommunication, for that he did himselfe, as it may euidently appeare by the circumstance of the place.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Caluine in. 18. Math.
• * 1.2

  1. Cor. 5.
• * 1.3

  Calui. 1. Cor. 5.