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…

To the first difference in the. 44. page.

To the fyrst difference in the. 44. page.

You say it was in the Apostles times under the cross / and therefore few / and so might easily know one an other / who were fit for the ministry: But you forget your self marvellously. For in the Apostles times / the church I mean visible and sensible (for else how could it be persecuted) was sown not only through out all Asia (which is the greatest part of the world) but through a great part of Africa / and no small portion of Europe: and now it is shut in a small corner of Europe / being altogether banished out of Asia and Africa. And therefore there are not the tithe now / of those that professed the gospel then / and what a conclusion is this / the churches were few in number / because they were under the cross. For to let pass both other scriptures and stories ecclesiastical / have you forgotten that which is said in Exodus / that the more the children of ¹Israel were pressed and persecuted / the more they multiplied? Then you say they kept together / and met often / and so knowing one another / were best able to judge one of an other. But herein you speak as one that hath small experience of persecuted churches / for in the time of persecution / the christians that were in one great city / were fain to gather them selves out of all the corners / and from all the ends of the City / to one place / being not able to divide them selves into many parishes / both for other considerations / and because they were not able to maintain many ministers / and elders / and Deacons / whereby it may be understand / that by all likelihood in one great city / they had but one congregation / and therefore that must needs be scattered here and there / and so could not have the commodity either of often meeting / or of knowing one an other so well / as ⟨p. 50⟩