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…

And if this be a sufficient proof of things to say / such a Doctor said so / such a council decreed so / there is almost nothing so true but I can impugn / nothing so false / but I can make true. And well assured I am / that by their means / the principal grounds of our faith may be shaken.

And if thys be a sufficient proofe of things to say / suche a Doctor sayde so / suche a councell decreed so / there is almost nothing so true but I can impugne / nothing so false / but I can make true. And well assured I am / that by their meanes / the principall groundes of our faith may be shaken.

And therefore / because you have no proof in the word of God / we comfort our selves / assured / that for so much as the foundations of the Archbishop and Lordship of Bishops and of other things / which are in question / be not in heaven / that they will fall and come to the ground / from whence they were taken.

And therfore / because you haue no proofe in the worde of God / we comfort our selues / assured / that for so muche as the foundations of the Archbyshop and Lordship of Bishops and of other things / which are in question / be not in heauen / that they wil fall and come to the ground / from whence they were taken.

Now it is known they are from beneath and of the earth / and that they are of men and not of God: The answerer goeth about to prove / that they came yet out of good earth / and from good men / which if he had obtained / yet he may well know / that it is no good argument to prove that they are good. For as the best earth bringeth forth weeds / so do the best men / bring forth lies and errors. But let us hear what is brought / that if this visard and show of truth be taken away / all men may perceive / how good occasion we have to complain / and how just cause there is of reformation. In the first place of S. Augustine there is nothing against any thing which we hold / for this / that the church may have things not expressed in the scripture / is not against / that it ought to have nothing / but that may be warranted by the scripture. For they may be according to the scripture / and by the scripture / which are not by plain terms expressed in the scripture. But against you it maketh much / & overturneth all your building in this book. For if in those things which are not expressed in the scripture / that is to be observed of the Church / which is the custom of the people of God / and decree of our forefathers: then how can these things be varied according to time / place / & persons / (which you say should be) when as it is to be retained / which the people of God hath used / & the decrees of the forefathers have ordained. And then also how can we do safelier / then to follow the apostles customs and the churches in their time / which we are sure are our for fathers / & the people of god.