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.

Io. Whitgifte.

It behoueth such as will take vpon them to plucke downe that which is wel buil∣ded,* 1.1 and to make a new platforme, to be well aduised what they do, and assured of their cunning: if this ought to be in humane matters, and in externall affaires of the life of man, how much more ought it to be in diuine matters, and things perteyning to the kingdome of heauē. I do not mislike that modestie and humilitie, that is con∣tente to be corrected, and to acknowledge that whiche is ami〈1 line〉〈1 line〉e. But I can by no meanes allowe that pryde and arrogancie, that presuming to condemne the whole state of a Churche, and to prescribe vnto the same a newe platforme, is by and by after, through vnskilfulnesse, and lack of discretion at the first, constreyned to misse∣lyke that newe platforme also, and to p〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ce it and patch it like a beggers cloke, with putting too and taking fro, with altering and chaunging sometyme this, and some∣tyme that, like vnto foolishe and vnskilful buylders. It behoueth suche as will take vpon them in church matters to pluck downe that which is alreadie buylded, and to prescribe a new platforme, to be certain of their 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ing, expert in their doings, groū∣ded in learning and experience: not yonglings and nouices, whose yea to day is nay to morow, whose heads are full of new toys and deuises, who publish in print their first cogitations and counsels, before they haue any leysure to thinke of their second. This is that whiche I misselyke, and reproue in the authors of the Admonition: for* 1.2 if they had published their myndes as scholars, and not as maisters: as learners, not as teachers: as putters in mynde of that whiche best liked themselues, not as prescribers what all other men ought of duetie to followe, theyr sodaine correcti∣ons had bene much more tollerable. But I will not multiplie wordes with you, neyther will I require that whiche you contemptuously enoughe haue spoken of my selfe, only I admonishe the Reader to take héede howe he doth credite such rashe and yong buylders, whiche so soone as they haue ended their buylding, must be con∣strayned to plucke downe the same agayne.

Notes

• * 1.1

  They whiche wil pul down the olde, and place a newe platforme, oughte to be v〈1 line〉〈1 line〉rie circum∣specte.
• * 1.2

  〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉.