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…

I know there be divers difficulties in this question / and therefore I was loth to enter into it / but that the answerer setteth down so confidently / that it maketh no matter for the truth of baptism / whether he be minister or no minister / and so whether one have a calling or no calling. Wherein notwithstanding he doth not only by his often handling of one thing / confound his reader / but him self also / and forgetteth that he is in an other question then which is propounded. For although it should be granted him / that the sacrament doth not depend upon that / yet hath he not that which he would have / that women may baptise. For it is one thing to say the baptism which is ministered by women / is good and effectual / and an other thing to say that it is lawful for women to minister baptism. For there is no man doubteth: but that the baptism which is ministered by an heretical minister is effectual / and yet I think that M. Doctor will not say / that therefore an heretical minister may baptise / and that it is lawful for heretics to baptise in the church. And therefore men must not only take heed (as M. Doctor saith) that they usurp not that which they are not called unto / but they must also take heed that they receive not functions and charges upon them / whereof they are not capable / although they be thereunto called.

I know there be dyuers difficultyes in thys question / and therefore I was lothe to enter into it / but that the answearer setteth downe so confidently / that it maketh no matter for the truth of baptisme / whether he be mynister or no mynister / and so whether one haue a calling or no calling. Wherein notwithstanding he doth not only by hys often handling of one thing / confounde hys reader / but hym selfe also / and forgetteth that he is in an other question then which is propounded. For although it should be graunted hym / that the sacrament doth not depende vpon that / yet hath he not that which he would haue / that women may baptise. For it is one thing to say the baptisme which is mynistred by women / is good and effectuall / and an other thing to say that it is lawfull for women to mynister baptisme. For there is no man doubteth: but that the baptisme which is mynistred by an hereticall mynister is effectuall / and yet I thincke that M. Doctor will not say / that therefore an hereticall mynister may baptise / and that it is lawfull for heretikes to baptise in the church. And therfore men must not only take heede (as M. Doctor sayth) that they vsurpe not that which they are not called vnto / but they must also take heede that they receyue not functions and charges vpon them / whereof they are not capable / although they be thereunto called.