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…

The Answer from. Now if either godly councils / unto I trust M. Calvins judgement will weigh.

The Answere from. Nowe if either godly councels / vnto I trust M. Caluins iudgement will weigh.

Here are brought in Justin Martyr / Ireneus / Tertullian / Cyprian / and councils / as dumb persons in the stage only to make a show / and so they go out of the stage without saying any thing. And if they had had any thing to say in this cause for these matters in controversy / there is no doubt / but M. Doctor would have made them speak. For when he placeth the greatest strength of his cause in antiquity / he would not have passed by Justin / Ireneus / Tertullian / Cyprian / being so ancient / and taken Augustin / which was a great time after them. And if the godly councils could have helped here / it is small wisdom to take Augustine / and leave them. For I think he might have learned that amongst the authorities of men / the credit of many is better then of one: and that this is a general rule / that as the judgement of some notable personage is looked unto in a matter of debate / more then theirs of the common sort / so the judgement of a council / where many learned men be gathered together / carieth more likelihood of truth with it / then the judgement of one man / although it be but a provincial council / much more then / if it be a general / and therefore you do your cause great injury / if you could allege them / and do not. This is once to be observed of the reader throughout your whole book / that you have well provided that you would not be taken in the trip for misalleging the scriptures / for that onles it be in one or two points / we hear continually (instead of Isaiah and Jeremiah / S. Paul / and S. Peter / and the rest of the Prophets and Apostles) S. Augustin and S. Ambrose / kai to en te phake myron, Dionysius Areopagita / ¹Clement. &c. And therefore I can not tell with what face we can call the papists from their antiquity / councils / and fathers / to the trial of the scriptures / who in the controversies which rise amongst our selves / fly so far from them / that it wanteth not much / that they are not banished of your part / from the deciding of all these controversies.