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. 6. the. 2. Diuision.

Admonition.

The eleuenth. They appoint a prescrip kind of serui〈1 line〉〈1 line〉e to bury the dead: and that whiche is the duty of euery christian, they tie alo〈1 line〉〈1 line〉e to the mini〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ter, whereby 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉rayer for the dead is maintay∣ned, and partly gathered out of some of the prayers, where they pray that we with this our bro∣ther, and all other departed in the true faythe of thy holy name, may haue our perfect consummati∣on and blisse, both in body and soule. We say nothing of the threefould peale, bycause that it is ra∣ther licensed by iniunction, than commaunded in the booke, nor of their straunge mourning, by chan∣ging their garments, which if it be not hypocraticall, yet it is superstitious and heatcrush, bycause it is vsed only of custome: nor of buriall Sermons, whiche are put in pl〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ce of 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉rentalls whereout spring many abuses, and therefore in the best reformed Churches are remoued. As for the super∣stitions vsed both in countrey and citie, for the place of buriall, which way they must lie, how they mu〈1 line〉〈1 line〉t be fecched to Church the Minister meeting them at Church st〈1 line〉〈1 line〉le with surplesse, with a com∣pany of greedy Clearks, that a Crosse white or blacke must be set vpon the dead corps, that breade must be giuen to the poore, and offrings in buriall time vsed, and cakes sent abroade to friends, by∣cause these are rather vsed of custome and superstition than by the authoritie of the booke. Small commaundement will serue for the accomplishing of such things. But greate charge will hardly bring the least good thing to passe, and therefore all is let alone, and the people as blind and as ig∣norant, as euer they were. God be mercifull vnto vs.

Ansvvere to the Admonition. Pag. 198. Sect. 1.

It is true that we haue a prescript kind of seruice to bury the dead, and that we appointe that office to the minister, and what haue you in the whole scripture, against this? or whoeuer hath found fault with either of these two things (I meane prescript seruice to bury the dead, and the minister to execute that office) but you alone? or when was it euer heretofore repro∣ued by any, but euen by yourselues now of late?

T. C. Pag. 161. Lin. 5.

Nowe for the things which the Admoni〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ion fyndeth fault with, and thereof 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ingeth reason, M. Doc〈1 line〉〈1 line〉er of his bare creditē, without any reason or sc〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ipture, or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thing else, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them vnto 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and sayth they be good. And this you shall marke to be M. Doctors simple shift through out his 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ooke, that when he hath no coloure of scripture, nor of reason, no name nor title of Doc∣tor, then r〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 make 〈◊〉〈◊〉 some thing▪ he v〈1 line〉〈1 line〉rieth his affirmation by all the figures he c〈1 line〉〈1 line〉n, as in saying 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that it is so and then in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 whether it be not so, and after in asking whether there 〈◊〉〈◊〉 any 〈◊〉〈◊〉 man will thi〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ke 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉hat it is not so, 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉s if he woulde make vs beleeue, that he setteth vs diuers 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of mea〈1 line〉〈1 line〉es, bycause he bringeth the same in diuers dishes. For besides these reasons, he hathe no reason, either to pro〈1 line〉〈1 line〉e that it is meete to haue prescript forme of seruice for the dead, or that the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 should be drawen to this charge. Surely if the order be so good and conuenien〈1 line〉〈1 line〉, it hathe met with a very barren 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉trone, whiche can saye nothing for it. And although there be enough sayd by the Admonition, yet bycause this bold and hardy 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉peach is 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉nough to leade the simpler a∣〈1 line〉〈1 line〉y, and to make them thinke that M. Doctor hath a good cause, therefore I will also say so〈1 line〉〈1 line〉∣thing of these rites of bur〈1 line〉〈1 line〉all.

Io. Whitgifte.

What one reason is there vsed in the Admonition? what one word of scripture? what authoriti〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 of writer? to improue a prescripte kinde of seruice to bury the dead, and the minister to execute that office. If there be any rehearse it: if there be none why do you kéepe your old cu〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ome of speaking vntruly? for as much therefore as they only say* 1.1 it withoute proofe, withoute reason, without gr〈1 line〉〈1 line〉unde, the thing being knowen so be good and godly, and pra〈1 line〉〈1 line〉tised in the primitiue Church (for we reade in Tertullian, that the dead were wont to be buried by the ministers, and with prayer) and furthermore sée∣ing it is established, and allowed by the Church, what shoulde I laboure by reason or authoritie to confirme that, whiche, cannot by any reason or authoritie be ouerthro∣wen.* 1.2 Wheresore I will only answer such bare assertions, as M. Zuinglius answered* 1.3 (vpon the like occasiō) one Balthasar an Anabaptist. VVhilest you require scripture and reason, you obtrude vnto other that whiche you oughte to performe your selues, for you denie that this ought to be so, shew therefore some expresse testimonie out of the scripture, to confirme your opinion. To this effect spea〈1 line〉〈1 line〉eth Zuinglius to Balthasar, who (without reason or scripture, alleadged to the contrary) required of Zuinglius the proofe of those thinges whiche without controle〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ent of any (but Heretikes) had continued in the Churche of long time, and then also allowed in the time of the Gospell: Euen so the receiued order established by this Church, carieth with it authoritie and credite sufficient, and néedeth not to be further by reason confirmed, except it be first by rea∣son ouerthrowen, which bycause it is not per〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ourmed by the Admonition, my affir∣mation is sufficient reason, against their deniall.

If this be M. Doctors simple shift throughout his booke, I trust M. Doctor that would〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 haue bin, hath not omitted to note it, where he may finde it, seing his eye sight is so sharpe, that he can imagine himselfe to espie it, where no man else can find it. But let words go.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The dead b〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 r〈1 line〉〈1 line〉d by the minister and with pra〈1 line〉〈1 line〉er in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Church.
• * 1.2

  Tertul. de Anima.
• * 1.3

  An order re∣ceyued in the Church nee∣deth no proof, vntill by rea∣son it be o∣uerthrowen. Zuinglius ad▪ Balt〈1 line〉〈1 line〉a. resp.