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…

The second reason is / that they that wear this apparel / have edified / and do edify: which is / as if a man would say / the midwives which lied unto Pharaoh / did much good amongst the Israelites / Ergo, their lying did much good. If ¹he will say / the comparison is not like / because the one is not sin in his own nature / whereas the other is sin / then take this: One that stammereth and stutteth in his tong / edifieth the people / therefore stammering and stutting / is good to edify. For what if the Lord give his blessing unto his word / and to other good gifts which he hath that preacheth and weareth a surplice. &c. Is it to be thought therefore / that he liketh well of the wearing of that apparel? This is to assign the cause of a thing to that / which is not only not the cause thereof / but some hinderance also / and s•aking of that / whereof it is supposed to be a cause. For a man may rather reason / that for as much as they which preach with surplice. &c. edify / (notwithstanding that they thereby drive away some / and to other some give suspicion of evil. &c.) if they preached without wearing any such thing / they should edify much more. And yet if a man were assured to gain a thousand / by ⟨p. 79⟩doing of that which may offend / or cause to fall one brother / he ought not to do it.

The second reason is / that they that weare thys apparell / haue edified / and do edify: whych is / as if a man would say / the midwiues whych lied vnto Pharao / did much good amongst the Israelites / Ergo, their lying did much good. If ¹he will say / the comparison is not like / because the one is not sinne in hys owne nature / whereas the other is sinne / then take thys: One that stammereth and stutteth in his tōg / edifieth the people / therfore stammering and stutting / is good to edifie. For what if the Lorde geue hys blessing vnto hys worde / and to other good giftes whych he hath that preacheth and weareth a surplice. &c. Is it to be thought therfore / that he liketh well of the wearing of that apparell? This is to assigne the cause of a thing to that / whych is not only not the cause thereof / but some hinderance also / and s•aking of that / wherof it is supposed to be a cause. For a man may rather reason / that for as much as they which preache wt surplice. &c. edify / (notwithstāding that they therby driue away some / and to other some giue spition of euill. &c.) if they preached wythout wearing any suche thyng / they should edify much more. And yet if a man were assured to gaine a thousande / by