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…

If there be no churches established / because there are no christian Magistrates / then the churches of the Apostles were not established. And it is absurd to say / that the ministers now with the help of the magistrate / can lay surer foundations of the church / or build more cunningly or substantially / then the Apostles could / which were the master builders of the church of God. And as for the consummation of the body of the church / and the beauty of it / seeing it consisteth in Jesus Christ / which is the head / that is always joined unseperably in all times of the cross / and not the cross with his body / which is the church: I can not see why the churches under persecution / should not be established / having both the foundation and the nether most parts / as also the top and hiest part of the church / as well as those which have a christian magistrate. If in deed the magistrate / whom God hath sanctified to be a nurse unto his church / were also the head of the same / then the church could not be established without the magistrate / but we learn that although the godly magistrate be the head of the common wealth / and a great ornament unto the church / yet he is but a member of the same. The church may be established without the magistrate / and so / that all the world / and all the Devils of hell can not shake it / but it can not be in quiet / in peace / and in outward surety / without a godly magistrate: And therefore the church in that respect and such like / praiseth God and prayeth for the magistrate / by the which it enjoyeth so singular benefits. Thereupon you conclude / that the church was then popular / which is as untrue / as the former part. For the church is governed with that kind of government / which the Philosophers / that write of the best common wealths / affirm to be the best. For in respect of Christ the head / it is a Monarchy / and in respect of the ancients and pastors / that govern in common / and with like authority amongst them selves / it is an Aristocracy / or the rule of the best men / and in respect that the people are not secluded / but have their interest in church matters / it is a Democracy / or a popular estate.

If there be no churches established / because there are no christian Magistrates / then the churches of the Apostles were not established. And it is absurd to say / that the ministers nowe wyth the helpe of the magistrate / can laye surer foundations of the church / or build more cunningly or substancially / then the Apostles could / whych were the master builders of the church of God. And as for the consummation of the body of the church / and the beautie of it / seeing it consisteth in Iesus Christe / whych is the heade / that is alwayes ioyned vnseperably in all times of the crosse / and not the crosse wyth his body / whych is the church: I can not see why the churches vnder persecution / should not be established / hauing bothe the foundation and the nether most partes / as also the toppe and hyest parte of the churche / as well as those whych haue a christian magistrate. If in deede the magistrate / whom God hath sanctified to be a nurse vnto his churche / were also the head of the same / then the church could not be established wythout the magistrate / but we learne that although the godly magistrate be the head of the common wealth / and a great ornament vnto the church / yet he is but a member of the same. The churche maye be established wythoute the magistrate / and so / that all the world / and all the Deuilles of hell can not shake it / but it can not be in quiet / in peace / and in outwarde suretie / wythout a godly magistrate: And therefore the churche in that respecte and suche like / praiseth God and prayeth for the magistrate / by the whych it enioyeth so singulare benefites. Therevppon you conclude / that the church was then populare / whych is as vntrue / as the former parte. For the churche is gouerned wyth that kinde of gouernment / whych the Philosophers / that wryte of the best common wealthes / affirme to be the best. For in respecte of Christe the heade / it is a Monarchie / and in respecte of the auncientes and pastoures / that gouerne in common / and wyth like authoritie amongste them selues / it is an Aristocratie / or the rule of the best men / and in respecte that the people are not secluded / but haue their interest in churche matters / it is a Democratie / or a populare estate.