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…

This I am compelled to write / not so much to prove that there were seniors in every church (which is a thing confessed) as to redeem those places from M. Doctors false and corrupt interpretations. And as for the proof of elders in every congregation / besides his confession / I need have no more but his own reason: For he sayeth that the office of these elders in every church / was in that time wherein there were no christian magistrates / and when there was persecution / but in the Apostles times there was both persecution / and no christian magistrates / therefore in their time the office of these elders was in every congregation. I come therefore to the second point wherein the question especially lieth / which is / whether this function be perpetual / and ought to remain always in the church. And it is to be observed by the way / that where as there are divers sorts of adversaries to this discipline of the church / Master Doctor is amongst the worst. For there be that say / that this order may be used or not used now / at the liberty of the churches: But M. Doctor sayeth that this order is not for these times / but only for those times when there were no christian magistrates / and so doth flatly pinch at those churches which having christian magistrates / yet notwithstanding retain this order still.

Thys I am compelled to wryte / not so much to proue that there were senyors in euery church (which is a thing confessed) as to redeame those places from M. Doctors false and corrupt interpretations. And as for the proufe of elders in euery congregation / besydes hys confession / I neede haue no more but hys owne reason: For he sayeth that the office of these elders in euery church / was in that tyme wherein there were no christian magistrates / and when there was persecution / but in the Apostles tymes there was both persecution / and no christian magistrates / therefore in theyr tyme the office of these elders was in euery congregation. I come therefore to the second poynt wherein the question especially lyeth / which is / whether thys function be perpetuall / and ought to remayne alwayes in the churche. And it is to be obserued by the way / that where as there are dyuers sortes of aduersaryes to thys disciplyne of the church / Maister Doctor is amongst the worst. For there be that saye / that thys order may be vsed or not vsed now / at the lybertie of the churches: But M. Doctor sayeth that thys order is not for these tymes / but only for those tymes when there were no christian magistrates / and so doth flatly pinch at those churches which hauing christian magistrates / yet notwithstanding retayne thys order still.