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. 166. in the midst.

The last place whych is alleaged by the Admonition, is out of the Epistle to Tim. where it sheweth, that for so muche as the state of a minister, is as that of a souldiour, and therefore as the* 1.1 souldiour, to the ende he might the better please his captayne, and doe his seruice of warfare, quit∣teth all those things whych he loueth, and wherof otherwyfe he might haue care, and might enio〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 euen so the minister ought to dispatche him selfe, of all those things, whiche maye be any let to the office of his ministerie, although he might otherwyse lawfully vse them. And if so be for the per∣forming

of the ministerie to the full, he must quite those things whiche he may lawfully vse, howe muche more might the Admonition conclude, that he ought not to entangle him selfe with those things, which (out of the places of S. Luke, and to the Romaines) it had shewed to be vnlawfull for him to meddle with? And although M. Doctor say the sentence be generall, yet it is particular∣ly ment, and most properly of the ministers, which M. Caluine teacheth M. Doctor in the same place, where he hath cited his authoritie twice to no purpose. For what althoughe M. Caluine doe not there apply in prescript words this sentence to proue that ministers ought not to meddle with ciuill offices, dothe it followe therfore that this place can not be vsed thereto? In saying that he ought to abstayne from all lets which may hinder his vocation and ministerie, he doth consequently say, that he ought to abstayne from all ciuill offyces, and if so be M. Doctor had beene so well read in the auncient Doctors (as he would seeme) he might haue knowne that this place is vsed of Cy∣prian to the same purpose that it is alleaged heere. For Cyprian speaking agaynst an Elder which* 1.2 had taken vpon him to be executor to one whiche was dead, alleageth this place.

Io. Whitgifte.

That whiche is spoken of a souldiour perteyneth to all Christians as well as to a minister: for euery Christian man is a souldiour: these ciuill functions be helpes to the ministerie, and may be lawfully vsed as I haue sayde before. M. Caluine truely interpreteth the place, and his interpretation maketh fully for my purpose, and di∣rectly agaynst you, as the Reader may easily perceyue, so that your many words are soone with this breuitie answered.

Cyprian alleageth the place to good purpose: for to be an executor is a troublesome matter, and dothe oftentimes hinder men from their other callings, so that somtimes euen temporall men (as we call them) doe auoyde the same for the trouble that ther∣vpon commonly ensueth: And yet I doubt whether you woulde refuse to be an exe∣cutor, or no, if it were offered vnto you by some: neyther doe I thinke it vnlawfull, so that the troublesomnesse of it be not too much, and an hinderance in déede to weigh∣tier matters.

Notes

• * 1.1

  2. Epist. 2.
• * 1.2

  9. Epist. 1. lib. 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉.