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 if this be to minister the sacrament / then they that cut the loaf in pieces / they that fetch the wine for the supper / they that pour it forth from greater vessels into glasses and cups / or whosoever aideth any thing in this action / do minister the sacrament: then the which thing there can be nothing more ridiculous.

And if thys be to mynister the sacrament / then they that cut the loafe in peeces / they that fetch the wine for the supper / they that poure it forth from greater vessels into glasses and cuppes / or whosoeuer aydeth any thing in thys action / doe mynister the sacrament: then the which thing there can be nothing more ridyculous.

In the end M. Doctor to shut up this matter / saith / that it is the first steppe to the ministry / and so joined of S. Paul in the third chapter and first Epistle to Timothy. But what a reason is this: to be a Deacon is the first step to the ministry / therefore the Deacon may preach and minister the sacraments / when as the contrary rather followeth. For if it be a step to the ministry / then it is not the ministry / but differeth from it / and so ought not to do the things that belong to the minister. But I deny that it is / or ought to be always a steppe to the ministry. I knew that it hath been the use of long time / & I know also that there be very many which interpret the place of S. Paul / (where he speaking of the Deacons that behave them selves well / that they get them selves a good bathmon, that is a degree to be a minister or a bishop.) But I will show a manifest reason / why it can not so be understanded / which is / for that as the functions of a Deacon or a minister are divers: so are the gifts also whereby those functions are executed likewise divers. And therefore there may be some men for their wisdom and gravity / discretion and faithfulness / and whatsoever other gifts are required in him / that should do this office of providing for the poor / and to be a good Deacon: which notwithstanding for some impediment in his tongue / or for want of utterance shall never be able as long as he liveth / to be a good minister of the word / and therefore the gifts being divers wherewith those offices must be executed / (although it is neither unlawful / nor unmeet to make of a Deacon a minister if he have gifts for that purpose) yet I deny that S. Paul appointeth that the Deaconship should be (as it were) the seed or fry of the ministers: or that he meaneth by those words that the Deaconship is a steppe to the pastorship. Which may yet also further appear / by the phrase of speech which the Apostle useth. For he doth not say that they that do the office of Deaconship well / shall come to or get a good standing / but he saith that in so doing they do get themselves a good standing / that is they get themselves authority & estimation in the church / whereby they may be both the bolder to do their office / and whereby they may do it with more fruit.