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…

Secondarily for those that preach to have a whole diocese / or province / or realm to be their flock / or city to attend upon / is contrary to the policy or good husbandry of all those / that would either have their city safe / or their flocks sound. For who are they which would appoint one for the watch of a thousand towns or cities / when as all they which love their safety / would rather have for every city many watchmen / then for many cities one? or what is he that is so watchful and circumspect / whose diligence and watchfulness one city assaulted with enemies / will not wholly occupy and take up? or what is he whose sight is so sharp / that he can see from one end of the diocese / or province / or realm to the other end thereof? or what is he that will commit the keeping of .xx. M. sheep to one man / that looketh for any good / or increase of them? how shall all these hear his whistle / how shall all know his voice / when they can not hear it? how shall they acknowledge him / when they can not know him? how shall they follow him / when they can not see him go before? how shall he heal their diseases / when he can not possibly know them. But some man will say / that these are human reasons / and likelihoods which may be overthrown with other similitudes. These notwithstanding are Analogies drawn from the nature of those things which the ministers are likened unto / and are of the most part used of the holy Ghost him self expressly. But that there be no controversy left in this point / what is a flock? S. Paul defineth it plainly / when he sayeth: appoint ¹pastors / or elders / or bishops (for these words are indifferently used) through / not every shire / or province / or realm / but through every city / or town. And least that any man should here take occasion to conclude / that then it is lawful for one man to be bishop or pastor of a whole City / such as London or York. &c. S. Luke in the Acts doth declare the meaning of this place / where ²he saith / that they appointed elders throughout every congregation / so that if the city or town be great / and the professors of the gospel in it / be more then will make conveniently a congregation / then there must be by the rule of God more pastors and bishops.

Secondarily for those that preache to haue a whole diocese / or prouince / or realme to be their flocke / or citie to attend vpon / is contrary to the pollicy or good husbandrye of all those / that woulde eyther haue their citie safe / or their flockes sound. For who are they whych would appoynt one for the watch of a thousand townes or cities / when as all they whych loue their safetye / woulde rather haue for euery citye many watchmen / then for many cities one? or what is he that is so watchfull and circumspect / whose diligence and watchfulnes one citye assaulted wyth ennemies / will not wholely occupy and take vp? or what is he whose sight is so sharpe / that he can see from one ende of ye diocese / or prouince / or realme to the other ende thereof? or what is he that will commit the keeping of .xx. M. sheepe to one man / that loketh for any good / or encrease of them? howe shall all these heare hys whistle / howe shall all knowe his voyce / when they can not heare it? how shall they acknowledge hym / when they can not knowe hym? howe shall they folowe him / when they can not see him goe before? howe shall he heale their diseases / when he can not possibly know them. But some man wil say / that these are humaine reasons / and likelyhodes whych maye be ouerthrowne wyth other similitudes. These notwithstanding are Analogies drawne from the nature of those things whych the ministers are likened vnto / and are of the moste parte vsed of the holy Ghoste hym selfe expresly. But that there be no controuersy left in this poynt / what is a flocke? S. Paule defineth it plainly / when he sayeth: appoynte