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. 49. page.

Oecumenius and Chrysostom say that by Elders he meaneth Bishops / not thereby to sever those that had the government of the church together with the pastor & minister of the word / which were called ancients / as you seem to mean: but to put distinction between those which are elders by age / & elders by office / besides y• / it is before alleged y• it may be y• the pastor or bishop did in the name of all the elders / lay on his hands upon him that was ordained. And lastly / you know and can not deny that s. Paul in one or two places confoundeth the Bishop and the Elder. To say that the bishop may as well say (receive the holy ghost) as to say the words used in the supper / or to say y• the sins ⟨p. 63⟩of those which to believe are forgiven / is dis dia pason, as far as York & London. For there / are commandments to the ministers to do that which they do / and here is none: and there the minister doth not command that the bread be the body of Christ / but he saith that it is. Neither doth he command y• sins should be forgiven / but pronounceth in the behalf of God / that they are forgiven. It is not unlawful also / that he with the congregation should make a prayer for the assistance / or increase of God his gifts upon him that is ordained, but to command that he should receive it / is merely unlawful. For these words (receive the holy ghost) are the imperative mood / and do expressly signify a commandment. And so the bishop may as well say to the sea / when it rageth and swelleth / peace / be quiet / as to say receive the holy ghost. And if you think it so good reason / to use this in the making of ministers / because you use the words of our saviour Christ / why may not you as well blow upon them as he did? for seeing that our saviour Christ confirmed his word there / with a sacrament / or outward sign / and you think you must therefore do it / because he did it / you are much to blame to leave out the outward sign / or sacrament of breath / whereby the faith of him which is ordained / might be the more assured of such gifts / and graces as are requisite in his function. I heap not up here the judgement of the writers / you know / I think / it might casely be done / if I liked to follow that way.