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…

Now you would prove that this election of ministers by one man was in the Apostles time. But you have forgotten your self / which said a little before / that this election by the church / was not only in the Apostles times / but also in the time of Cyprian: now you say otherwise. And if the election of the ministry by the church agree so well with the time of persecution / and when there is no christian Magistrate / how cometh it to pass / that in those days when persecution was so hot / and there were no such Magistrates / that S. Paul would have the election by one man / and not by the church. Besides that / if this be S. Paul his commandment / that the bishop should only choose the minister / why do you make it an indifferent thing / and a thing in the power of the church to be varied by times / for this is a flat commandment. Thus you see you throw down with one hand / as fast as you build with the other. But to answer directly to the place of the fifth of the first to Timothy.

NOw you would proue that thys election of ministers by one man was in the Apostles time. But you haue forgotten your selfe / which sayde a little before / that this election by the church / was not only in the Apostles times / but also in the tyme of Cyprian: now you say otherwise. And if the election of the ministery by the church agree so wel with the time of persecution / and when there is no christian Magistrate / how commeth it to passe / that in those dayes when persecution was so hotte / and there were no such Magistrates / that S. Paule would haue the election by one man / and not by the church. Besydes that / if this be S. Paule hys commaundement / that the byshop should only chuse the minister / why doe you make it an indifferent thing / and a thing in the power of the church to be varyed by times / for this is a flarte commaundement. Thus you see you throwe downe with one hand / as fast as you builde with the other. But to answere directly to the place of the fifthe of the first to Timothe.

I say first / that S. Paul writeth to Timothy / and therefore instructeth him what he should do for his part in the appointing of the minister. If he had written to the whole Church of Ephesus / he would likewise have instructed them how they should have behaved them selves in that business. If one do write unto his friend / that hath interest in any election / to take heed that he choose none but such as are meet / shall any man conclude thereupon / that none hath to do in that election / but he to whom that letter is written? Then I say further / that S. Paul attributeth that unto Timothy / that was common to moe with him / because he being the director and moderator of the election / is said to do that which many do: which thing I have proved by divers examples both out of the scripture / and otherwise before. And even in this imposition of hands / it is manifestly to be showed. For that where as S. Paul saith in the 2. Epistle /