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…

But to the end it may appear / that this speech of yours / doth something take up & shrink the arms of the scripture / which otherwise are so long & large: I say that the word of God containeth the direction of all things pertaining to the church / yea of what soever things can fall into any part of mans life. For so Solomon saith / in the second chapter of the Proverbs. My son / if thou ¹receive my words / and hide my precepts. &c. Then thou shalt understand ⟨p. 27⟩justice and judgement / and equity / and every good way. S. Paul saith that ²whether we eat or drink / or whatsoever we do / we must do it to the glory of God. But no man can glorify God in any thing but by obedience / and there is no obedience but in respect of the commandment and word of God: therefore it followeth that the word of God directeth a man in all his actions. And that which S. Paul said of meats and drinks that they are sanctified unto us by ³the word of God / the same is to be understanded of all things else whatsoever we have the use of. But the place of S. Paul is of all other most clear / where speaking of those things which are called indifferent / in the end he concludeth / that whatsoever is not of faith / is sin: but faith is not but in respect of the ⁴word of God / therefore whatsoever is not done by the word of God / is sin. And if any will say that S. Paul meaneth there a full plerophorian and persuasion that that which he doth is well done / I grant it. But from whence can that spring but from faith / and how can we persuade and assure our selves / that we do well / but whereas we have the word of God for our warrant? so that the Apostle by a metonymy Subiecti pro adiuncto, doth give to understand from whence the assured persuasion doth spring. Whereupon it falleth out / ye forasmuch as in all our actions both public & private we ought to follow the direction of the word of God: in matters of the church and which concern all / there may be nothing done but by the word of God. Not that we say / as you charge us in these words (that no ceremony. &c. may be in the church except the same be expressed in the word of God) but that in making orders and ceremonies of the church / it is not lawful to do what men list / but they are bound to follow the general rules of the scripture / that are given to be the squire / whereby those should be squared out.