A18078:165
A reply to an answer made of M. Doctor Whitgifte Against the admonition to…A replye to an ansvvere made of M. Doctor VVhitgifte Against the admonition to…
A reply to an answer made of M. Doctor Whitgifte Against the admonition to the Parliament. By T.C.A replye to an ansvvere made of M. Doctor VVhitgifte Against the admonition to the Parliament. By T.C.
printed by John Stroud?, 1573
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
An answer to that which is contained in the. 20. 21. and 22. page / until. Now if either godly Councils.
An answere to that which is contayned in the. 20. 21. and 22. page / vntill. Now if eyther godly Councels.
You give occasion of suspicion / that your end will be scarce good / which have made so evil a beginning. For whereas you had gathered out of the Admonition / that nothing should be placed in the Church / but that God hath in 1his word commanded / as though the words were not plain enough / you will give them some light / by your exposition. And what is it? you answer that it is as much as though they would say / nothing is to be tolerated in the church of Christ / touching either doctrine / order / ceremonies / discipline / or government / except it be expressed in the word of God. Is this to interpret? is it all one to say: nothing must be placed in the church: and nothing must be tolerated in the church? he hath but small judgement / that can not tell / that certain things may be tolerated and borne with for a time / which if they were to be set in and placed / could not be done without the great fault of them that should place them. Again / are these of like weight / except it be commanded in the word of God: and except it be expressed in the word of God? Many things are both commanded and forbidden / of which there is no express mention in the word / which are as necessarily to be followed / or avoided / as those / whereof express mention is made. Therefore unless your weights be truer / if I could let it / you should weigh none of my words. Hereupon you conclude / that their arguments taken ab authoritate negative, prove nothing. When the question is of the authority of a man / in deed it neither holdeth affirmatively nor negatively. For as it is no good argument to say / it is not true because Aristotle or Plato said it not: so is it not to say / it is true / because they said so. The reason whereof is / because the infirmity of man can neither attain to the perfection of any thing / whereby he might speak all things that are to be spoken of it / neither yet be free from error in those things / which he speaketh or giveth out / and therefore this argument / neither affirmatively / nor negatively / compelleth the hearer: But only induceth him to some liking or misliking of that / for which it is brought / & is rather for an orator to persuade the simpler sort: than for a disputer to enforce him that is learned.