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. 6. Diuision.

Ansvvere to the Admonition. Pag. 216. Sect. 2. 3.

The last text heere quoted is the. 2. Tim. 2. verse. 3. 4. Thou there∣fore suffer affliction as a good souldiour of Iesus Christ: no man that vvar∣reth entangleth him selfe vvith the affayres of this life, bicause he vvould please hym that hath chosen him to be a souldiour. This latter sentence is generall, and perteyneth to all men. The meaning is this, who∣soeuer would be a souldiour vnder Christ, muste leaue all worldly things, and followe him. It speaketh nothing eyther of ciuill or ec∣clesiasticall offices. For if you will knowe what he there meaneth by the affayres of this life, heare what M. Caluine sayth, writing vpon that place: per negotia vitae intelligit familiae administr 〈◊〉〈◊〉 cur〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 & 〈◊〉〈◊〉 occupationes: By the affayres of this life he vnderstandeth the care of gouer∣ning his familie, and other ordinary businesse.

If you will learne howe this place is to be applyed, the same M. Caluine teacheth you like wise in these wordes following: Nunc appli∣canda est comparatio ad rem praesentem, quod quisquis vult sub Christo mil t〈1 line〉〈1 line〉e, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 relictis omni∣bus mundi tricis & auocamentis se illi totum sua{que} studia addi〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ere: Novve this compara∣tion is to be applied to the present purpose, that vvhosoeuer vvill playe the vvarriour vnder Christe, leauing all vvorldely matters and impedi∣ments, muste giue him selfe vvholly vnto him. This therefore is gene∣tall, and perteyneth to all Christians, but chiefly and especially to the ministers of the worde, who maye not occupie them selues in worldly businesse, as other men do: that is, they muste not be mar∣chaunts, husbandmen, craftes men, or hinder their vocation with suche lyke worldly affayres. As for suche ciuill offices as be com∣mitted to them, they be rather helpes to their vocation, than im∣pediments: for the office of a Iustice of peace, of an highe Commis∣sioner, and suche like, is to punishe vice and iniquitie, to see good or∣der kepte in the common wealth, aswell in matters touching reli∣gion, as other common and publike businesse. Wherefore as these offices be not meere ciuill, but partely ecclesiasticall, and be for dis∣cipline and correction of sinnes: so in my opinion they be most meete to be committed to some of the wysest and best of the Cleargie, to the ende that suche as by the word will not, by conuenient dysci∣pline may be cōpelled to do their dueties. Neyther are such offices to be accounted worldly affayres, but rather heauenly and spiri∣tuall, forasmuche as they serue to the mayntenance of religion and godlynesse, and to the suppressing of sinne and wickednesse. If it be true that Augustine sayth: Seruiunt Reges Christo, leges ferendo pro Christo. It is also true, Seruiunt Episcopi Christo, leges exequendo pro Christo.

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 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 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

• Expos〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ion of 2. Tim. 2. 3. 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉
• Caluine
• 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• Some ciuill offices rather helpes than hinderances to the 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 a Bishop.
• 2. Epist. 2.
• 9. Epist. 1. lib. 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉.