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…

Jerome and you / confess that this was first / that the bishop was all one with the elder / and first also by the word of God / then I conclude that that is true. You both do likewise confess that it came after that one bare rule over the rest / then I conclude that that is false / for all that is false that is later. Furthermore Jerome in the same place of Titus saith after this sort. As the elders know them selves to be subject by a custom of the church unto him that is set over them: so the bishops must know that they are greater then the elders / rather by custom then by any truth of the institution of the Lord / and so they ought to govern the church in common.

Ierome and you / confesse that thys was first / that the byshop was all one with the elder / and first also by the word of God / then I conclude that that is true. You both doe likewise confesse that it came after that one bare rule ouer the rest / then I conclude that that is false / for all that is false that is later. Furthermore Ierome in the same place of Titus sayth after thys sort. As the elders know them selues to be subiect by a custome of the church vnto hym that is set ouer them: so the byshops must know that they are greater then the elders / rather by custome then by any truth of the institution of the Lord / and so they ought to gouerne the church in common.

Now / seeing that Jerome confesseth that a bishop and an elder / by God his institution are all one / and that custom of the church hath altered this institution / for the taking away of this custom and restoring of the Lords institution / I say as our saviour Christ said / why do you break the commandments of ¹God / to establish your own traditions? for the one is the institution of God / and the other the tradition of the church / and if a mans testimony be so much with M. Doctor / let him hear what the same Tertullian faith: whatsoever savoureth ²against the truth / shall be accounted heresy / even although it be an old custom. Now I will turn M. Doctors own argument upon his head / after this sort. In the apostles times there were schisms and heresies / but in their times there were no archbishops ordained to appease them / therefore the best means of composing of controversies / and keeping concord / is not by having an archbishop to be over a whole province. That there was none in the apostles times / thus it may appear. If there were any / they were either ordained by the apostles and their authority / or else without / and besides their authority. If there were any without / and besides their authority / then they are therefore to be condemned the more / because in their times they start up without their warrant. And if the apostles did ordain them / there was some use of them to that whereunto they were ordained / but there was no use of them / to that whereunto they were ordained / therefore the apostles did not ordain them. The use whereunto M. Doctor saith they were ordained / was to compose controversies / and end schisms / but to this they were not used / whereupon it followeth / that if there were any / they were unprofitable. That they were not used to any such end / it shall be perceived by that which followeth.