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…

An other fault there is in the whole service or Liturgy of England / for that it maintaineth an unpreaching ministry / and so consequently an unlawful ministry. I say it maintaineth / not so much in that it appointeth a number of psalms and other prayers and chapters to be red / which may occupy the time which is to be spent in preaching / wherein notwithstanding it ought to have been more wary / considering that the devil under this colour of long prayer / did thus in the kingdom of antichrist banish preaching / I say not so much in that point / as for that it requireth necessarily nothing to be done by the minister / which a child of ten year old can not do / as well and as lawfully / as that man wherewith the book contenteth it self. Neither can it be shifted / in saying this is done for want of able men to be ministers / for it may be easily answered / that first the want of sufficient ministers ought to be no cause for men to break the unchangeable laws of God / which be / that none may be made minister of the church / which can not teach / that none minister the sacraments which do not preach. For although it might be granted / (which thing I would not deny / no not when there are enough sufficient ministers / ) that they may appoint some godly grave man which can do nothing else but read to be a reader in the church / yet that may not be granted / that they may make of one that can do nothing but read / a minister of the gospel / or one which may have power to minister the sacraments.

An other faulte there is in the whole seruice or Lyturgie of Englande / for that it maintaineth an vnpreaching ministery / and so consequently an vnlawfull ministery. I say it maintaineth / not so muche in that it appoynteth a number of psalmes and other prayers and chapters to be red / whych may occupye the time whych is to be spent in preaching / wherin notwythstanding it ought to haue bene more wary / considering that the deuil vnder this coloure of long prayer / did thus in the kingdome of antichriste banish preaching / I say not so much in that poynt / as for that it requireth necessarily nothyng to be done by the minister / whych a childe of ten yeare olde can not doe / as well and as lawfully / as that man wherewyth the boke contenteth it selfe. Neyther can it be shifted / in saying this is done for want of able men to be ministers / for it may be easely answeared / that first the want of sufficient ministers ought to be no cause for men to breake the vnchāgeable lawes of God / whych be / that none maye be made minister of the churche / whych can not teache / that none minister the sacraments whych do not preache. For althoughe it might be graunted / (whych thing I woulde not denye / no not when there are enough sufficient ministers / ) that they may appoynt some godly graue man whych can do nothing else but reade to be a reader in the churche / yet that may not be graunted / that they maye make of one that can doe nothyng but reade / a minister of the gospell / or one whych may haue power to minister the sacramentes.