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…

Secondarily / I cannot commend it / for that / that one man is the Archdeacon / which must examine the pastors / and judge of their sufficiency. For what is the Archdeacon? is he not a Deacon? for he being the chief Deacon / must needs be also a Deacon him self. And therefore although the chief deacon / yet inferior to any of the pastors: and the * gifts which are required in him / inferior ¹to those which are required in the pastor. And to make him judge of the aptness & ablenesse of the pastor / is to make the inferior in gifts / judge of the superior: he that hath by his calling less gifts / judge of his which hath by his calling greater gifts / which is nothing else / then to appoint him that hath but one eye / to oversee his sight / that hath two.

Secondarely / I cannot commend it / for that / that one man is the Archdeacon / which must examyne the pastors / and iudge of their sufficiencie. For what is the Archdeacon? is he not a Deacon? for he being the cheefe Deacon / must needes be also a Deacon hym selfe. And therfore although the cheefe deacon / yet inferioure to any of the pastoures: and the * giftes which are required in hym / inferioure ¹to those which are required in the pastoure. And to make him iudge of the aptnesse & ablenesse of the pastoure / is to make the inferioure in giftes / iudge of the superioure: he that hath by hys calling lesse giftes / iudge of his which hath by his calling greater giftes / which is nothing else / then to appoynt him that hath but one eye / to ouersee hys sight / that hath two.

1. 11. Tim. 3.

Thirdly / I mislike the book / because it permitteth that the Bishop may admit the minister / upon the credit and report of the Archdeacon / & upon his examination / if there be no opposition of the people: which appeareth by these words in the book / whereas to the Archdeacon saying thus. Reverend father in God. I present unto you these persons to be made priests. &c. The Bishop answereth. ¶ Take heed that the persons whom you present unto us / be apt and meet for their godly conversation / to exercise their ministry duly / to the honour of God and edifying of his church. And thereupon I think it cometh / that the Archdeacon is called the eye of the Bishop. But why doth not he himself take heed unto it? with what conscience can he admit a Minister / of whose fitness he knoweth not / but upon the credit of an other / although he were otherwise very fit? where can he have that full persuasion that he doth well / upon the report of others / when the report of his life / and learning / is made but of one. And therefore * S. Paul ordained / that the same should be the ordainers and the examiners /