Io. Whitgifte.
These be but glorious wordes, the truth wherof shall appeare, when we come to the more particular declaration of the seuerall poyntes: and if wée accuse with∣out proofe, say and shewe no reason, take youre remedie agaynste vs as slaunde∣rers, and bring vs to our triall. In deede the doctrine of the Gospell, which is the doc∣trine of saluation, hath ben, is, and will be a friend to Princes and Magistrates, yea though they persecute the same: But you haue not yet proued your doctrine now in question, to be that doctrine of the Gospell & of saluation. These woordes might wel haue ben spoken of the Gospell against Mahometisme, Iudaisme, Papisme, but you doe iniurie to that doctrine of lyfe, when you confounde with the same your errone∣ous contentions about ceremonies, and the kinde of gouernment, whiche all béeing externall things, I thinke not many will make them to be de necessitate salutis, of ne∣cessitie vnto saluation. you haue here sayde nothing of your doctrine, but that whiche the Arrians, the Pelagians, the Papistes, the Turkes, yea almoste the Anabap∣tistes will say of theirs: for many euen of the Anabaptistes confesse, that Magi∣strates be necessarie, but yet not to be lawfull for Christians to be Magistrates: and for proof therof they vse diuers of the self same places that the Admonition hath allea∣ged (and you allowed) against superioritie in the clergie. And (except I be deceyued) you come verie néere to them, for you will haue the Ecclesiasticall and ciuill gouern∣ment so distincte, that they can by no meanes concurre in one and the selfe same per∣sons: wherby you take from the Ciuil Magistrate authoritie in Ecclesiasticall mat∣ters, and by that meanes spoyle him of the one halfe of his iurisdiction. But of this matter more at large hereafter as occasion shall be ministred by you. In the meane tyme, I admonishe the Reader to beléeue youre wordes no farther than he shall sée iust proofe of them.