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…

Upon this false conclusion of S. Augustine / hath risen this profanation of the sacrament of baptism / in being ministered in private houses / & by women or lay men / as also upon his other absurd conclusion / sprung a horrible abuse of ⟨p. 144⟩the Lords supper / whilst they did thrust the bread and wine into young infants mouths / for that men were persuaded / that otherwise if their children should die before they were baptised or had received the supper / they were damned for ever. And what better token can there be / that this was the cause of this blind baptism / then that the papists from whom this baptism by women is translated / were of the same judgement / and for that cause brought in their baptism by women. Hereupon may be added an other cause / which is that as (when the church began not only to decline / but to fall away from the sincerity of religion) it borrowed a number of other profanations of the Heathen: so also it borrowed this. For as the Heathen had women priests / so it would have also her women priests / and that this was an other occasion of bringing in the baptism by women / it appeareth by your Clement / if he can speak any truth.¹

Vpon thys false conclusion of S. Augustine / hath rysen thys prophanation of the sacrament of baptisme / in being mynistred in pryuate houses / & by women or lay men / as also vpon hys other absurde conclusion / sprong a horrible abuse of ⟨p. 144⟩the Lords supper / whylest they dyd thrust the bread and wyne into yong infants mouthes / for that men were persuaded / that otherwyse if their children shoulde die before they were baptised or had receiued the supper / they were damned for euer. And what better token can there be / that thys was the cause of thys blynde baptisme / then that the papistes from whome thys baptisme by women is translated / were of the same iudgement / and for that cause brought in theyr baptisme by women. Hereupon may be added an other cause / which is that as (when the church began not only to declyne / but to fall away from the sincerity of relygion) it borowed a number of other prophanations of the Heathen: so also it borowed thys. For as the Heathen had women priestes / so it would haue also her women priestes / and that thys was an other occasion of bringing in the baptisme by women / it appeareth by your Clement / if he can speake any truth.