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.

Musculus in his common places, in the chapter of the offices of the ministers of the worde saith, that in the Apostolike Church, the ministers of the worde were none aboue another, nor subiecte to any head, or president, and mislyketh the setting vp of any one in higher de∣gree than another: And further he saith vpon the seconde chapter of the seconde Epistle to the Thessalonians, that the honor of a Bishop, being taken from the rest of the ministers, and giuē to one, was the first step to the papacie, howsoeuer in other places he speaketh otherwise.

Io. Whitgifte.

Musculus in those wordes of his common places, speaketh of superioritie quoad officium & potestatem, touching office and power, (for these wordes dothe he vse) he speaketh not of superioritie touching order and pollicie, whiche is nowe in question. The same power is in all ministers of the worde of bynding, losing, and admini∣string the Sacraments, but not of gouerning in the externall pollicie of the Church. Moreouer Musculus in that place speaketh chiefly of the vsurped power of the By∣shop of Rome, and of that authoritie which his Byshoppes doe chaleng and clai〈1 line〉〈1 line〉e, from him, wherefore that place maye not be wrested against the lawfull iurisdictiō and superioritie that is nowe vsed in this Church of Englande.

Upon the seconde chapter of thée seconde Epistle to the Thessalonians, he onely sheweth how the Pope came to such excessiue authoritie. No man doubteth but that such things as were well instituted and vpon iust considerations, may by proces of

tyme abused: but doth it therfore followe, that they may not be restored to their right vse agayne? A man might then much more strongly reason agaynst your equalitie, which by sufficient tryall (as by Ierome in sundrie places it maye appeare) is pro∣ued to haue bene, and to be the cause of schismes, sectes, contentions, seditions, tu∣multes, murders, confusion of Churches and common weales. &c. Nothing is so well instituted but it may be abused.