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…

Although as touching M. Bullenger it is to be observed / since the time that he wrote that upon the Romans / there are about .xxxv. years / sithens which time although he hold still that the feasts dedicated unto the Lord (as of the Nativity / Easter / and Pentecost) may be kept / yet he denieth flatly that it is lawful to keep holy the days of the apostles / as it appeareth in the confession of the Tigurine church joined with others.¹

Althoughe as touching M. Bullenger it is to be obserued / since the time that he wrote that vppon the Romaines / there are about .xxxv. yeares / sythens whych time although he holde still that the feastes dedicated vnto the Lord (as of the Natiuity / Easter / and Pentecost) may be kept / yet he denyeth flatly that it is lawfull to keepe holy the dayes of the apostles / as it appeareth in the confession of the Tigurine church ioyned wyth others.¹

1. 1Confess. eccle. Tigur. & aliarum eccle. c. 24.

As for M. Calvin / as the practise of him and the church where he lived was and is / to admit no one holy day besides the Lords day: so can it not be showed out of any part of his works (as I think) that he approved those holy days / which are now in question. He sayeth in deed in his Institution: that he will not condemn those churches which use them: No more do we the church of England / neither in this nor in other things / which are mere to be reformed. For it is one thing to mislike / another thing to condemn / and it is one thing to condemn some thing in the church / and an other thing to condemn the church ⟨p. 155⟩for it. And as for the places cited out of the epistles to the Galatians and Colossians / there is no mention of any holy days / either to saints or to any other. And it appeareth also that he defendeth not other churches / but the church of Geneva / and answereth not to those which object against the keeping of saints days or any holy days (as they are called) besides the Lords day / but against those which would not have the Lords day kept still / as a day of rest from bodily labour / as it may appear both by his place upon the Colossians / and especially in that which is alleged out of his Institutions. And that he meaneth nothing less then such holy days / as you take upon you to defend / it may appear first in the place of the Colossians / where he sayeth that the days of rest which are used of them / are used for policy sake. Now it is well known / that as it is policy and a way to preserve the estate of things / and to keep them in a good continuance and success / that as well the beasts as the men which labour six days should rest the seventh: so it tendeth to no policy nor wealth of the people or preservation of good order / that there should be so many days / wherein men should cease from work / being a thing which breedeth idleness / and consequently poverty / besides other disorders and vices / which always go in company with idleness. And in the place of his Institutions he declareth him self yet more plainly / when he sayeth / that those odd holy days then are without superstition / when they be ordained only for the observing of discipline and order.