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 learne in Eusebius Lib. 1. de vita Constan. that Constantinus is called as it were a generall Bishop appoynted of God, that he also called Synodes and placed the mo∣derator in them: I learne in that seconde Booke, that he made lawes and constitu∣tions perteyning to holynesse towardes God, and to the appoynting of meete thinges for the Churches of God: that there shoulde be no Images worshipped: none erected and set vp: no enchauntmentes vsed or so thsayinges. And I learne in that same Epistle by you quoted, that Constantinus prescribed to Eusebius what he shoulde do, and what he should will others to do, in buylding and repayring of Church▪s, or enlarging of them: neyther is there mention made of anyother Lawes or constitutions in that Epi∣stle: and surely I beleeue that those woordes whiche Constantinus speaketh to Euse∣bius of buylding or repayring, or enlarging Churches buylded of stone, you vnder∣stande of making, restoring or enlarging of Ecclesiasticall orders and Lawes, whiche if you do (as your woordes playnely signifie) then vnderstande you not the place, abuse your Reader, and caste away an argument. For Constantinus woordes to Eusebius be thesc: Howe hitherto by that wicked sentence and tyrannie, persecuting the Ministers of our Sauiour, the buyldinges of the Churches are decayed, and weakened thorough negligence, or soulde and made vyle, for feare of imminent daunger, I knowe and am fully perswaded: but nowe libertie beyng restored, and that Dragon thorough the prouidence of God, and our ministerie banished from the gouernment of the common wealth, I thinke Gods power is made manifest to all, and that those whiche haue fallen in∣to certayne sinnes, eyther for feare or thorough vnbeleefe, and nowe knowe the truthe will returne agayne to the true and right waye of lyfe: therefore admonishe all Churches whiche thou doest gouerne or any other Churches, vnder the gouernment of other Bi∣shops, Priestes, or Deacons, that they be diligent aboute the buyldyng of theyr Churches, and that they eyther repayre suche as stande still, or enlarge them, or if necessitie requyre, buylde them newe, and thou thy selfe, or other for thee, may requyre of the gouernours and Magistrates in the prouinces those thinges that be necessarie. It is playne that Con∣stantine in these woordes speaketh onely of materiall Churches, and therefore you are greatly deceyued. But if it were as you say, do you not sée howe it maketh a∣gaynst your selfe? for what dothe more plainely appeare in that you saye, he permit∣teth this vnto the Bishops &c. than that the authoritie was in him, and they were but his vicegerentes.

The continuall practise of Christian Churches (in the tyme of Christian Ma∣gistrates) before the vsurpation of the Bishop of Rome, hath bene to giue to Chri∣stian

Princes supreme authoritie in making Ecclesiasticall orders and lawes, yea and that whiche is more, in deciding of matters of religion, euen in the chiefe and principall poyntes. And that booke and chapter of Sozomene by you quoted decla∣reth the same. For the Bishops that came to the Councell of Nyce, committed the hearing & determining of theyr controuersies to the Emperour, which argueth that it was then, a common and vndoubted opinion receyued among them, that the Em∣perour had authoritie to iudge in their causes: and although the Emperour of mo∣destie refused so to do, saying, that it was not meete for them, so to vse themselues, that they shoulde be iudged of other, yet I am sure you will not make this a rule to exempt the Cleargie from the iurisdiction of the Ciuill Magistrate, vnlesse you will take holde with the Pope and saie, VVe muste iudge all and be iudged of none▪ This modestie in Constantinus (in refusing to heare the matters in controuersis among the Bishops) excepted, there is nothing in that firste booke and, 17▪ chapter of Sozomene, that can by any meanes serue your turne.

If you say that he woulde not determine any thing agaynst Arius heresie, but committed the same to the Synode and Councell of Nice: I answere, that therein be nothing at all abridged his authoritie.▪ but shewed his wisedome and godly care. For it is the parte of a wise and godly Prince, to haue such weightie matters of doc∣trine (beyng in controuersie) decreed and determined by suche, as for their autho∣ritie, wisedome and learning, are moste fitte to entreate of suche matters. But alas how doth this argument follow: Constantinus called the Councell of Nice to deter∣mine certayne matters of religion in controuersie, therefore he had no authoritie to make Ecclesiasticall orders and lawes?

What Councell of Constantinople was that? if you meane the. 5. beyng cele∣brated Anno. 549. in the tyme of Iustinianus: it is a very late testimonie for this cause, the Bishops of Rome: beyng then in great authoritie, and yet manifest it is, that no Emperour made mo Ecclesiasticall lawes, bothe concerning matters of order, and also of doctrine, than did the Emperour Iustinianus, as may be séene in the Code vn∣der these Titles, De summa trinitate & fide Catholica: De sacrosanctis Ecclesijs: de Episcopis & Clericis: de Haereticis & Manichaeis & Samaritanis: ne sanctum Baptisma iteretur: de statu∣is & imaginibus, and a number such like.

If you meane the sixth Councell of Constantinople, as it lyke you do: then are you without my compasse: for that Councell was Anno. 681. and who will alleage any authoritie of that corrupt tyme for any suche matter in controuersie? and yet it is certayne that Constantinus the Emperoure did gouerne that Councell and that the Bishops on bothe sides did pleade before him at his appoyntment, himselfe sit∣ting as moderator: and this was in a matter of fayth. But be it as you say (though I can finde no suche thing in the firste Action of that Councell) dothe it followe that bycause Emperours cōfirmed ordinaunces that were made in Synodes and Coun∣celles, therefore they haue no authoritie to make Ecclesiasticall lawes? surely I vnderstande not howe you can make any suche conclusion, for (as I sayde before) it is a poynt of greate wisedome and singular care, to prouide that weightie matters in controuersie be determined with great deliberation and aduise of suche as be most skilfull in them. But this can be no argument to proue that Ciuill Magistrates may make no orders in the Churche, or Ecclesiasticall Lawes: for euen those or∣ders and lawes whiche were made in suche Councels, were made by the authori∣tie of the Emperour, as dothe very well appeare in the same Councels, for when the matters were concluded in the Councell of Chalcedon, the Bishops brust out into these voyces. It is a true and a right iudgement: long lyfe to the Senate: many yeares to the Emperour. Whereby it appeareth that the chiefe authoritie in suche Councels was giuen to the Emperour, and that he was esteemed as the chiefe iudge: which appeareth also at large in the seconde booke of Euagrius.

Notes

• Euseb. lib. 1. de vita Const. Constantinus his rule in ec∣clesiasticall matters.
• Lib. 2.
• Epist. ad Eu∣sel.
• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 grosse o∣uersight of T. C.
• Lib. 2. Eus. de vita Con lant. Epist. ad Eus.
• Eusthius go∣uernour of me churches than one.
• The place a∣gaynst 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• Christian Princes haue exercised su∣〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 autho∣ritie in eccle∣siastical cases. Sozomenus. lib. 1. cap. 17.
• A wise prince will take the aduise of the learned in dis∣cussing of weighty mat∣ters.
• Iustinian made many Ecclesiasticall lawes.
• Constanti∣nus▪ rogon▪ gouerned the councell of Constantino∣ple. on. 681.
• Conc. Chalced▪ Euagr lib. 2. cap. 4.