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…

For the third point / which is / that it is an enemy to magistrates / and the common wealth: if it be enough to accuse without proof / to say and show no reason / innocency it self shall not be guiltless. This doctrine was in times past / even by their confession / which write against it / a friend unto princes and magistrates / when princes / and magistrates were enemies unto it: and can it now be an enemy unto princes / and magistrates / which are friends unto it? It helped / and upheld the common wealths / which were governed by tyrants / and can it hinder those / which are governed by godly princes? And in what is it an enemy to princes / and magistrates? Note the variance / set down the enmity. If the question be / whether princes / and magistrates be necessary in the church / it holdeth / that the use of them / is more then of the sun / without the which the world can not stand. I fit be of their honour / it holdeth / that with humble submission of mind / the outward also of the body / yea the body it self / and all that it hath / if need so require / are to be yielded / for the defence of the prince / and for that service / for the which the prince will use them unto / for the glory of God / and maintenance of the common wealth. If it be asked of the obedience due unto the prince / and unto the magistrate / it answereth that all obedience in the Lord / is to be rendered: and if it come to pass / that any other be asked / it so refuseth / that it disobeyeth not / in preferring obedience to the great God / before that which is to be given to mortal man. It so resisteth / that it submitteth the body / and goods of those that profess it / to abide that which God will have them suffer in that case. And if it be showed / that this is necessary for the church / it can not be / but profitable for the common wealth: nay the profit of it / may easily appear / for that by the censures / and discipline of the church / as they are in this book described / men are kept back from committing of great disorders of stealing / adultery / murder. &c. whilst the smallest faults of lying / and uncomely jesting / of hard and choleric speeches / which the magistrate doth not commonly punish / be corrected.

For the third poynt / whych is / that it is an enemy to magistrates / and the common wealth: if it be enough to accuse wythout proufe / to say and shewe no reason / innocency it selfe shall not be giltles. Thys doctrine was in times past / euen by their confession / which wryte against it / a friend vnto princes and magistrates / when princes / and magistrates were enemies vnto it: and can it nowe be an enemy vnto princes / and magistrates / whych are frendes vnto it? It helped / and vpholded the common wealths / whych were gouerned by tyrantes / and can it hinder those / whych are gouerned by godly princes? And in what is it an ennemy to princes / and magistrates? Note the variance / set downe the enemitie. If the question be / whether princes / and magistrates be necessary in the church / it holdeth / that the vse of them / is more then of the sunne / wythout the whych the world cā not stand. I fit be of their honor / it holdeth / that wyth humble subnussion of minde / the outward also of the body / yea the body it selfe / and all that it hath / if nede so require / are to be yelded / for the defence of the prince / and for that seruice / for the whych the prince will vse them vnto / for the glory of God / and maintenance of the common wealth. If it be asked of the obedience due vnto the prince / and vnto the magistrate / it answeareth that all obedience in the Lord / is to be rendred: and if it come to passe / that any other be asked / it so refuseth / that it disobayeth not / in preferring obedience to the great God / before that whych is to be geuen to mortall man. It so resisteth / that it submitteth the body / and goodes of those that professe it / to abide that whych God will haue them suffer in that case. And if it be shewed / that this is necessary for the church / it can not be / but profitable for the common wealth: nay the profit of it / may easly appeare / for that by the censures / and discipline of the church / as they are in thys booke described / men are kept back from committing of great disorders of stealing / adultry / murder. &c. whilest the smallest faultes of lying / and vncomely iesting / of harde and cholericke speaches / whych the magistrate doth not commonly punishe / be corrected.