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…

Furthermore / to shape the archbishop by these places of Cyp. you must be driven to expound this word (church) province. The papists (which cite this place for the pope / as you do for the archbishop) expound the word (church) ⟨p. 100⟩here / to be the whole church universal and catholic / and in deed / although it be falsely expounded so in this place / yet may they do it with more probability and likelihood / then to expound it a province / forsomuch as these words (the church) is oftener red / both in the scripture / and old writers / to signify the whole church / then any province of one realm. But let Cyprian expound him self what he meaneth by a church here / although that may easily appear by that / which is spoken of S. Cyprian his bishop. Whereas Cyprian declareth / that Cornelius the bishop of the church which was in Rome / would not let Felicissimum a Novatian heretic / being caste out by the bishops of Africa / to enter into the church / he declareth sufficiently / that he meaneth that company of the faithful / which were gathered together at Rome / to hear the word / and to communicate at the sacraments. For it was not Cornelius part to shut him out of the province / neither indeed could he / him self being not able without hazard (by reason of the persecution that then was) to tarry in any part of the province. Again / speaking against the Novatian heretic / he showeth that through his wicked opinion of denying of repentance to those that were fallen / the confession of faults in the church was hindered. Now it is manifest that confession was not made through out the province / but in that particular church where the party dwelt that committed the fault. Therefore Cyprian understandeth by the name of the church / neither diocese (as we call diocese) and much less a whole province. And in the same Epistle / speaking of those which had fallen / he sayeth / that they durst not come so much / as to the threshold / or entry of the church / where he also opposeth the church to the province / saying that they rove about the province / and run about to deceive the brethren.

Furthermore / to shape the archbyshop by these places of Cyp. you must be driuen to expound this word (church) prouince. The papistes (which cite thys place for the pope / as you doe for the archbishop) expounde the worde (churche) ⟨p. 100⟩heere / to be the whole church vniuersal and catholike / and in dede / although it be falsly expounded so in thys place / yet may they doe it wyth more probability and likelyhode / then to expound it a prouince / forsomuch as these words (the church) is oftner red / both in the scripture / and old wryters / to signify the whole church / then any prouince of one realme. But lette Cyprian expounde him selfe what he meaneth by a church heere / although that may easely appeare by that / whych is spoken of S. Cyprian hys bishop. Wheras Cyprian declareth / that Cornelius the bishop of the church which was in Rome / would not let Felicissimum a Nouation hereticke / being caste oute by the byshoppes of Affricke / to enter into the church / he declareth sufficiently / that he meaneth that companye of the faithfull / whych were gathered togither at Rome / to heare the word / and to communicate at the sacramentes. For it was not Cornelius part to shutte him out of the prouince / neither indeede could he / him selfe being not able without hazard (by reason of the persecution that then was) to tary in any part of the prouince. Againe / speaking against the Nouatian hereticke / he sheweth that throughe hys wicked opinion of denying of repentance to those that were fallen / the confession of faults in the churche was hindred. Nowe it is manifest that confession was not made through out the prouince / but in that particulare church where the partye dwelt that committed the fault. Therefore Cyprian vnderstandeth by the name of the church / neither diocese (as we call diocese) and muche les a whole prouince. And in the same Epistle / speaking of those whych had fallen / he sayeth / that they durst not come so much / as to the thresholde / or entry of the churche / where he also opposeth the church to the prouince / saying that they roue about the prouince / and run about to deceiue the brethren.