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…

Now I return to the example of Sephora / and say that the unlawfulness of that fact doth appear sufficiently in that she did it / before her husband Moses / which was a Prophet of the Lord / and to whom that office of circumcision did appertain: so that unless M. Doctor would have midwives baptise in the presence of the bishop or the minister / there is no cause why he should allege this place. Besides that she did cut of that foreskin of the infant not of mind to obey the commandment of God / or for the salvation of the child / but in a choler only / to the end that her husband might be eased and have release: which mind appeareth in her / both by her words / and by casting away in anger the foreskin which she had cut of. And if it be said that the event declared that the act pleased God / because that Moses forthwith waxed better / and was recovered of his sickness / I have showed before / how if we measure things by the event / we shall oftentimes justify the wicked / and take the righteousness of the righteous from them. An other reason he hath / which is / that the dignity of the sacraments doth not depend upon the man / whether he be minister or no minister / good or evil.

Now I returne to the example of Sephora / and say that the vnlawfulnes of that fact doth appeare suffyciently in that shee dyd it / before her husband Moses / which was a Prophet of the Lord / and to whome that office of circumcysion dyd appertayne: so that vnlesse M. Doctor would haue mydwyues baptise in the presence of the byshop or the mynister / there is no cause why he should alledge thys place. Besides that shee dyd cutte of that foreskin of the infant not of mynde to obey the commaundement of God / or for the saluation of the childe / but in a choler only / to the ende that her husbande myght be eased and haue release: which mynde appeareth in her / both by her wordes / and by casting away in anger the forskin which she had cutte of. And if it be sayde that the euent declared that the act pleased God / because that Moses forthwith waxed better / and was recouered of hys sicknesse / I haue shewed before / how if we measure thinges by the euent / we shall oftentymes iustifie the wicked / and take the righteousnesse of the righteous from them. An other reason he hath / which is / that the dignitie of the sacramentes doth not depende vpon the man / whether he be mynister or no mynister / good or euill.