The answer.
Héere you say that that is plaine, which no wise man can sée: namely, that holy orders giue grace, in, and by the externall cere∣monie of imposing of the bishops hands. For if that were so, what néeded there be any choise of men furnished with gifts and gra∣ces for that purpose, sith in the very ordering they should be suffi∣ciently indued with gifts and graces necessarie and néedfull? And how fel it out that there were so great a number of popish priests void and destitute of al gifts & graces after their ordering, when the bishop had conferred and bestowed vpon them all that he could? It is euident by the manifold commendations that the Apostle giueth to Timothie,* 1.1 as well for his owne studie in the scriptures,* 1.2 as also for his bringing vp vnder his mother, and grandmother, that he was a man furnished with gifts afore Paul and the elders ordered him. But bicause the praiers of the church in that his consecrating to the worke of God, were not in vaine, that blessing and increase of aptnesse and fitnesse, which God at their petitions gaue him at that time, is called the gift or grace by imposition of hands. In the like order it is true, that all those which be rightly ordered, are deliuered to the grace of God: bi∣cause