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. 168. Sect. vlt.

Further in the (*) councell of Calcedon it was decreed, that, none of the clearkes & cleargie* 1.1 (as it termeth them) should receyue any charge of those which are vnder age, vnlesse they were such as the lawes dyd necessarily cast vpon him, which it calleth inexcusable charges, meaning by all likelihoode the wardship of his brothers children, or some such thing. Where is also declared the cause of that decree to haue bin, for that there were certayne ministers which were Stewards to noble men. And 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the. 7. canon of the same councell it is decreed, that none of the cleargy shoulde eyther goe to warfare as souldiours or captaynes, or should receyue any secular honors, and if they dyd, they should be excommunicated, or accursed.

Io. Whitgifte.

The words of the thirde Canon be these: Relation is made vnto this holy Synode,* 1.2 that certayn amongst the cleargie for filthie lucers sake hyer other mens possessions, & take vpon them the causes of secular businesse, and through slouthfulnesse separate themselues frō diuine functions, and runne to the houses of secular persons, & for couetousnesse take vpon thē the gouernment of their substance: therfore this holy vniuersall & great Synode hath decreed, that none of these hereafter, that is, Bishop, or Clearke, or Monke, shall hyer possessions, or intermeddle with secular possessions, except those that by lawe are dryuen to take the tuition and care of suche as be vnder age: or those to whome the Bishop of the Citie hathe committed the gouernment of ecclesiasticall things, and of Orphanes and wi∣dowes, which are without succour, or of such persons which neede the helpe of the Church for the feare of God. &c.

This Canon conteyneth nothing contrarie to my assertion, the words of the Ca∣non be playne: I shall not néede to vse any exposition of it. Onely I would haue the

Reader marke the weight of your argument, which is this. The Councell of Chal∣cedon sayeth, that Clerkes may not for filthy lucres sake hyre other mennes possessions, or take vpon them for couetousnesse sake, the gouernment of other mennes possessions, &c. therefore there may be no ciuill office committed vnto them. I will aske no better cō∣mentaries to the Canon of the Apostles before alledged, or any other suche like, than this very Canon of the Councell of Chalcedon.

To what purpose do you alledge the. 7. Canon of that Councell? did you euer heare me say that I would haue a minister to be a Souldier or a captaine in warre? or enioy any such secular honor or offices? wherefore you lacke probation when you are constrayned to vse this.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Tom. 1. can. 3.
• * 1.2

  Con. Calced. can. 3.