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 will I show you the clean contrary of that you say / not that I gladly travail this ways / for if you had not constrained me / you should not have heard one voice this way. And would to God that you would be content / especially when you meet with those that will be tried by the scriptures / to seek no farther strength then they give you. But I am loth you should oppress the truth / and make all men afraid of it / by making them believe / that it is so desolate and forsaken of her friends / as you pretend. You confess S. Cyprian is against you herein / and he was a learned father / and a Martyr also / which did not only use this form of election / but also taught it to be necessary / and commanded / and therefore me thinketh you should not have said all the learned fathers without exception. You see also S. Jerome is of an other judgement. S. Augustine also / when he speaketh how he appointed Eradius to succeed him / showeth / how it was the approved right and custom / that the whole church should either choose / or consent of their Bishop. And * Ambrose sayeth / that that is truly and certainly a divine election to the office ⟨p. 59⟩¹of a bishop / which is made of the whole church. Eregorius Nazianzene in the Oration which he had at the death of his father / hath divers things which prove that the election of the minister pertained to the Church / and confuteth those things which should seem to hinder it. These were learned fathers / and yet thought not that the election of the pastor or bishop / pertained to one man alone but that the church had also her interest / therefore you see all the learned fathers are not of that mind / you say they are.

Now will I shewe you the cleane contrary of that you saye / not that I gladlye trauaile thys wayes / for if you had not constrayned me / you shoulde not haue hearde one voyce thys way. And woulde to God that you woulde be content / especially when you meete with those that will be tryed by the scriptures / to seeke no farther strengthe then they geue you. But I am lothe you shoulde oppresse the truthe / and make all men afrayde of it / by making them beleeue / that it is so desolate and forsaken of her frendes / as you pretende. You confesse S. Cyprian is agaynste you herein / and he was a learned father / and a Martyr also / whych dyd not only vse thys forme of election / but also taught it to be necessary / and commaunded / and therefore me thincketh you shoulde not haue sayde all the learned fathers without exception. You see also S. Ierome is of an other iudgement. S. Augustine also / when hee speaketh how hee appoynted Eradius to succeede hym / sheweth / howe it was the approued right and custome / that the whole church shoulde eyther chuse / or consent of their Bishoppe. And * Ambrose sayeth / that that is truely and certaynely a diuine election to the office