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…

But when as the ancient neither did / nor by any means might meddle with those things which belonged unto a magistrate / no more under a tyrant than under a godly magistrate / there is no reason why the magistrate entering into the church / the elder should be therefore thrust out. For the elders office was to admonish severally / those that did amiss / to comfort those which he saw weak & shaking / and to have need of comfort / to assist the pastor in ecclesiastical censures of ⟨p. 176⟩reprehensions / sharper or milder as the faults required / also to assist in the suspē scions from the supper of the Lord until some trial were had of the repentance of that party which had confessed him self to have offended / or else if he remained stubborn / to assist him in the excommunication. These were those things / which the elders did / which forsomuch as they may do as well under a christian magistrate / as under a tyrant / as well in the time of peace as in the time of persecution / it followeth that as touching the office of elders / there is no distinction in the times of peace and persecution / of a christian prince and of a tyrant. But I will yet come nearer. That without the which / the principal offices of charity can not be exercised / is necessary and always to be kept in the church. But the office of ancients & elders are such as with out which the principal offices of charity can not be exercised / therefore it followeth that this office is necessary. That the principal offices of charity can not be exercised without this order of ancients / it may appear for that he which hath faulted / and amendeth not after he be admonished once privately / and then before one witness or two / can not further be proceeded against / according to the commandment of our saviour Christ / onlesse there be in the church / ancients and elders / therefore this principal office of charity / which tendeth to the amendment of him which hath not profited by those two former admonitions / can not be exercised without them. For it is commanded of our saviour Christ / that in such a case when a brother doth not profit by these ¹two warnings / it should be told the church.

But when as the auncient neither dyd / nor by any meanes might meddle with those things which belonged vnto a magistrate / no more vnder a tyrant thē vnder a godly magistrate / there is no reason why the magistrate entring into the church / the elder shuld be therfore thrust out. For the elders office was to admonish seuerally / those that dyd amisse / to comfort those which he saw weake & shaking / and to haue neede of comfort / to assist the pastor in ecclesiasticall censures of