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…

Thirdly / if both those things were true / that is / that infants had faith / and that it might be precisely said y• it believeth / yet ought not the minister demand this of the child / whom he knoweth can not answer him / nor those that answer for the child ought to demand to be baptised / when they neither mean / nor may be (being already baptised. But it is meet / that all things should be done gravely / simply / and plainly in the church. And so (if those other two things were lawful) it ought to be done / as seemeth to have been done in S. Augustine's times / when the minister asked those that presented the infant / and not the infant / whether it were faithful / and those which presented / answered in their own persons / and not in the child's / that it was faithful.

Thirdly / if bothe those thyngs were true / that is / that infantes had fayth / and that it myght be precisely sayd y• it beleeueth / yet ought not the minister demaund thys of the childe / whom he knoweth can not answer hym / nor those that answer for the childe ought to demaund to be baptised / when they neyther meane / nor may be (being already baptised. But it is meete / that all thyngs should be done grauely / simply / and plainly in the church. And so (if those other two thyngs were lawfull) it ought to be done / as seemeth to haue bene done in S. Augustines times / when the minister asked those that presented the infant / and not the infant / whether it were faythfull / and those whych presented / answeared in their owne persons / and not in the childes / that it was faythfull.

For Godfathers there is no controversy between the admonition / and M. doctors book / which appeareth not only in their corrections / but plainly in the 188. page / where they declare that they rather condemn the abuse / whilst it is urged more then greater matters / and which are in deed necessary / this being a thing arbitrary / and left to the discretion of the church / and whilst there is so evil choice for the most part of Godfathers / which is expressedly mentioned of the admonition / and whilst it is used almost for nothing else / but as a mean for one friend to gratify an other / without having any regard to the solemn promise made before God and the congregation / of seeing the child brought up in the nurture and fear of the Lord. For the thing it self / considering that it is so generally received of all the churches / they do not mislike of it.