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…

And what reason is there / that it should be granted unto one that can not preach being (as they call him a minister) to minister both the sacraments / when as the same is not permitted unto a deacon (as they call him) which is able to preach? I do not speak it for that I would have those which be deacons in deed / that is which have charge to provide for the poor of some one congregation / either preach or minister the sacraments: but I say that it is against all reason / to permit the ministry of the sacraments to those which can not preach / & ⟨p. 162⟩to deny it to those which are able to preach. In the. 118. page unto the example of Phillip / he addeth S. Stephen / which was one of the deacons which he affirmeth to have preached. But I deny it / for all that long oration which he hath in the 7. of the Acts / is no sermon / but a defence of him self against those accusations / which were laid against him / as M. Beza doth very learnedly & substantially prove in his annotations upon those places of S. Stephens disputations & defence. Now to defend him self being accused / is lawful not for the deacons only / but for any other christian / & we read nothing that Stephen did there either touching the defence of his cause / or the sharp rebuking of the obstinate pharisees and priests / but that the holy Martyrs of God which were no deacons nor ministers / have done with us / when they have been convented before their persecutors. And where as he saith that Philip baptised / I have showed before by what authority he did it / that is / not in that he was a deacon / but for that he was an Evangelist. He addeth further out of Justin Martyr / that the deacons did distribute the bread & the wine in the administration of the supper. Tully saith in a certain place that it is as great a point of wisdom in an advocate or pleader of causes / to hold back and to keep close that which is hurtful to his cause / as it is to speak that which is profitable.

And what reason is there / that it should be graunted vnto one that can not preach being (as they call hym a mynister) to mynister both the sacramentes / whē as the same is not permitted vnto a deacon (as they call hym) which is able to preach? I doe not speake it for that I woulde haue those which be deacons in deede / that is which haue charge to prouide for the poore of some one congregation / eyther preach or mynister the sacraments: but I say that it is agaynst all reason / to permit the mynistery of the sacramentes to those which can not preach / & ⟨p. 162⟩