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.

T. C. Pag. 162. Sect. 2.

Moreouer, considering that these funerall sermons are at the request of ryche men, and those which are in authoritie, and are very seldome at the buriall of the poore, there is brought into the church (contrary to the worde of God) an acceptation of persones, which ought not to bee. For al∣though the minister may giue to one more honour than to an other, according as the calling or de∣gree requireth, yet in his ministerie, and that which perteyueth vnto his office, he ought to shew him selfe indifferent, and therefore preache as well at the death of the poore, as of the ryche, and bicause he cannot well do both, it is moste conuenient to leaue both.

Io. Whitgifte.

This is your thirde reason, but it toucheth only the persone, and not the cause, for it reproueth the minister for not preaching as well at the buriall of the poore as of the ryche: which if it be a faulte it is the fault of the man, not of the thing: and therfore

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no good reason to condemne funerall sermons. But you saye, he can not do both, and ther∣fore it is moste conuenient that he leaue both: shall he at no tyme do good, bicause he can not do it at all tymes? bicause he is not able to preache euery daye, shall he not therefore preache once in the wéeke? or if he be not able to preache once in the wéeke, shall hée not therefore (being able) preache once in a fortnight? what kinde of reasoning call you this? And yet if your reason for preaching twyse a day before mentioned, be good and allowable, I knowe not why y^e minister may not be able to preach at the burial, as well of the poore as of the ryche, and yet there may be sometymes more occasion, to preache at the buriall of the ryche, than at the buriall of the poore: neither is this that acceptatiō of persons, which is in scripture prohibited: for there be degrées of persons and seuerall dignities. Howbeit, funeral sermons be rather in the respect of the liuing than of the dead.