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 therein Aristotle said very well / that that which was cared for of all men / was neglected of all / and cared for of none / so that the ⟨p. 68⟩preservation of wife or children / or of any other possession / was then the best and surest / when as every man had a certain possession committed unto him / which he should care for / and take charge of. And so the Lord his wisdom was for the better surety and salvation of his church / not to make many ministers which should in common and indifferently take care of all / but ordained that the church should be divided into divers parts / and that every one should have a piece to care for / and to give account for.

For therein Aristotle sayd very well / that that which was cared for of all men / was neglected of all / and cared for of none / so that the ⟨p. 68⟩preseruation of wife or children / or of any other possession / was then the best and surest / when as euery man had a certaine possession committed vnto him / which he should care for / and take charge of. And so the Lord his wisdome was for the better suretie and saluation of hys churche / not to make many ministers whych should in common and indifferently take care of all / but ordained that the church should be deuided into diuers partes / and that euery one shoulde haue a peece to care for / and to giue accompte for.

Now if any man will say / that in such great scarcity of pastors / it is good that when a man hath travelled in one place / and removed them from superstition / and brought them to believe in God through Christ / to go to an other place / and assay also to draw them from idolatry: First I urge that which I did before / which is the calling wherein every man must abide / and without y• which no man ought to attempt any thing. Then I say that it is as hard a province / & as painful a thing unto the pastor / as acceptable and precious a work unto the Lord / to keep those which are gotten / as to get those which are not gotten / and that that saying is fulfilled here (if in any thing else.)