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…

I know none / that have been preachers of the gospel / and after in the time of Queen Mary malsemongers / which now are zealous / godly / & learned preachers / and if there be any such / I think for offence sake / the Church might better be without them then have them. You say God in that place showeth how grievous a sin idolatry is / in the priests especially. And is it not now more grievous in the minister of the gospel / whose function is more precious and knowledge greater? And if the sin be greater / should it have now a less punishment / then it had then? how shall the fault be esteemed great or little / but by the greatness or smallness of the punishment? you said before the places of Deuteronomy / touching adding and diminishing nothing from that which the Lord commandeth / were for the Jews / and are not for our times. And this commandment of God in Ezekiel / you say / served for that time / and not for ours.

I know none / that haue beene preachers of the gospell / and after in the time of Queene Mary malsemongers / which now are zealous / godly / & learned preachers / and if there be any suche / I thincke for offence sake / the Church might better be without them then haue them. You say God in that place sheweth how greuous a sinne idolatrie is / in the priestes especially. And is it not now more greuous in the mynister of the gospell / whose function is more precious and knowledge greater? And if the sinne be greater / should it haue now a lesse punishment / then it had then? how shall the fault be esteemed great or little / but by ye greatnes or smalnesse of the punishment? you sayde before the places of Deuteronomie / touching adding and diminishing nothing from that which the Lord commaundeth / were for the Iewes / and are not for our times. And thys commaundement of God in Ezechiel / you say / serued for that time / and not for oures.

You work a sure way / which to maintain your corruptions / deny the scripture / which speaketh against them / to be understanded of those which be in our time / and that to be understanded of our ministers / which was of theirs / or of our faults / which was of theirs. This is not the way to Anabaptism / but to all heresies / and schisms / that ever have been or shall be. For if you go forward in clipping the scripture / as you begin / you will leave us nothing in the end / wherewith we may either defend our selves against heretics / or be able to strike at them.