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. 2. Diuision.

Admonition.

Touching Deacons though their names be remayning, yet is the office fouly peruerted, and

turned vpside downe, for their dutie in the primitiue Church, was to (s) 1.1 gather the almes diligent∣ly and to distribute it faythfully: also for the sicke and impotent persons to prouide painfully, ha∣uing euer a diligent care, that the charitie of godly men were not wasted vpon loyterers (t) 1.2 and idle vagabonds. Now it is the first step to the ministerie, nay rather a mere order of Priesthoode.

Ansvvere to the Admonition. Pag. 118. Sect. 2.

In the whole. 12. Chapter of the Epistle to the Romaines, there is* 1.3 not one worde to proue the office of a Deacon to consist in gathering almes, and distributing the same, neyther yet doth he speake there of the office of a Deacon, no more doth he in the thirde Chapter of the seconde Epistle to the Thessalo. Lorde God what meane you thus to play with the Scriptures?

T. C. Pag. 152. Sect. 2.

First I will speake of the Deacons, and whereas M. Doctor crieth out of daliying with the scriptures for alledging the. 8. verse of the twelfe vnto the Romaines, to proue Deacons, affirming that there is no worde of them? Truly I can find no wordes to set forth this so grosse ignorance. And had it not beene enough, for master Doctor to haue vttered this ignorance, but he must also with an outcrie proclaime it, and as it were spread the banner of it? What doe these wordes note (he that distributeth in simplicitie) but the office of the Deaconship: for in that place S. Paule reekeneth vy all the ordinarie and perpetuall offices of the Church, as the office of the Doctor, of the Pastor, of the Deacon, of the elder, and leaueth not out so much as the widow, which he noteth in these wordes (shewing mercie.) If the Authours of the Admonition do dally with the scriptures in this place, surely Master Caluine, Master Beza, Master Bucer, Peter Martyr. &c. doe dally with them. And shall all these be esteemed to play with the Scriptures. And Master Doctor onely to handle them seriously?

Io. Whitgifte.

I thinke rather this clause: he that distributeth, let him do it with simplicitie, is* 1.4 spoken to such as be able to helpe the poore, that they should do it willingly and sim∣plie for Christes sake, not for vaine glorie, or any other like respect. For the whole scope of that Chapter is to moue such as beléeue in Christ to good lyfe, and conuersa∣tion, neyther doth the Apostle speake of the Ministers of the Church onely, but of all Christians of what vocation or calling so euer they be. And therefore this sentence being generall and spoken to all of abilitie, it may also include Deacons, but I sée not how it can be particularly restreyned to them. Origen vpon this place saith: The* 1.5 Apostle sayth that he which giueth, and bestoweth any thing vpon the poore, must do it in simplicitie of heart, that is, that he seeme not to benefite the poore, and in heart seeke the prayse of men. VVherefore it is not simplicitie, if one thing seeme to be done outwardly, and in heart another be sought for. Chrysostome likewise expounding these wordes* 1.6 sayth: It sufficeth not to giue, but it must also be done bountifully. &c. So doth the Gréeke Scholiast, Theodorete, Theophilact, Ambrose, Hierome: all these do vnderstand this place, not of the Deacons, who distribute other mens almes, but of such as giue almes themselues, and relieue the poore with theyr owne substance.

Master Bullinger also doth admit, and well allowe this interpretation. Wherfore you sée, that I haue good grounde of my saying, when I sayde that he did not speake there of the office of a Deacon.

You say that Paule reckeneth vp here all ordinarie and perpetuall offices of the Churche, but you speake it onely, you proue it not: he speaketh here of prophecying, and you denie the office of a Prophete to be perpetuall. You say he speaketh here of Wy∣dowes, and I denie their office to be perpetuall. Moreouer it is certaine that hee speaketh in this place of gyftes profitable to the Churche, and some of them common, as well to Ciuill as to Ecclesiasticall persons, as all learned Fathers in theyr Commentaryes vppon this place doe confesse, and so doeth Maister Bullinger in lyke manner, and so I thinke muste all other doe that well consyder

the drift of S. Paule in that Chapter, and the profitable lessons, the Apostle th〈1 line〉〈1 line〉re gi∣ueth to all and euerie sort of men.

Notes

• (s) 1.1

  Rom. 12. 8.
• (t) 1.2

  2. Thes. 3. 10
• * 1.3

  More pertey∣neth to the of∣fice of Dea∣cons, than prouision for the poore.
• * 1.4

  Rom. 12. 8.
• * 1.5

  Origen. in. 12. Rom.
• * 1.6

  Chrysost. in 12. Rom.