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 in the 187. page M. Doctor answereth hereunto / that this implieth no more that the salvation is tied to the sacraments / then when it is taught that infants must be baptised / and not tarry until they come to the age of discretion. Which how truly it is spoken / when as the one hath ground of the scripture / the other hath none / the one approved by the continual / and almost the general practise of the church / the other used in the corrupt and rotten estate thereof / let all men judge. Therefore for so much as the ministry of the word and sacraments go together / & that the ministry of the word may not be committed unto women / and for that this evil custom hath risen first of a false understanding of the scripture / and then of a false conclusion of that untrue understanding (which is / that they can not be saved which are not baptised) and for that the authors them selves of that error / did never seek no remedy of the mischief in women's or private baptism: And last of all for that if there were any remedy against that mischief in such kind of baptism / yet it ought not to be used / being against the institution of God & his glory / I conclude that the private baptism / and by women is utterly unlawful. There followeth the private communion which is found fault with / both for the place wherein it is ministered / & for the small number of communicants which are admitted / by the book of service. Touching the place before is spoken sufficiently / it resteth to consider of the number. But before I come to that / I will speak some thing of the causes & beginning of receiving in houses / & of the ministering of the Communion unto sick folks. It is not to be denied / but that this abuse is very ancient / and was in Justin Martyrs time / in Tertullians and Cyprian's time / even as also there were other abuses crept into the supper of the Lord / and that very gross / as the mingling of water with wine / and therein also a necessity and great mystery placed / as it may appear both by Justine Martyr and Cyprian.

Now in the 187. page M. Doctor answeareth heereunto / that thys implyeth no more that the saluation is tyed to the sacramentes / then when it is taught that infants must be baptysed / and not tary vntill they come to the age of discretion. Which how truely it is spoken / when as the one hath ground of the scripture / the other hath none / the one approued by the continuall / and almost the generall practise of the church / the other vsed in the corrupt and rotten estate thereof / let all men iudge. Therefore for so much as the mynistery of the worde and sacramentes goe together / & that the mynistery of the word may not be committed vnto women / and for that thys euill custome hath rysen fyrst of a false vnderstanding of the scripture / and then of a false conclusion of that vntrue vnderstanding (which is / that they can not be saued which are not baptised) and for that the authors them selues of that error / did neuer seeke no remedy of the mischeefe in womens or priuate baptim: And last of all for that if there were any remedy agaynst that mischefe in such kynde of baptisme / yet it ought not to be vsed / being agaynst the institution of God & hys glory / I conclude that the priuate baptisme / and by women is vtterly vnlawfull. There followeth the priuate communion which is found fault with / both for the place wherein it is mynistred / & for the small number of communicants which are admitted / by the bocke of seruice. Touching the place before is spoken sufficiently / it reasteth to consider of the number. But before I come to that / I will speake some thing of the causes & beginning of receiuing in houses / & of the mynistring of the Communion vnto sicke folkes. It is not to be denyed / but that thys abuse is very auncient / and was in Iustin Martyrs tyme / in Tertullians and Cyprians tyme / euen as also there were other abuses crept into the supper of the Lord / and that very grose / as the mingling of water with wine / and therein also a necessitie and great mystery placed / as it may appeare both by Iustine Martyr and Cyprian.