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…

Now seeing Master Doctor can show us no cause why they may not as well be now / as in the time of the Apostles / as well under a christian prince as under a tyrant / I will show him that although they be always necessary / yet there is better cause why they should rather be now then in the apostles times / greater necessity under a christian prince / then under a tyrant. First of all in the apostles times it is known that the gifts of the spirit of wisdom / discretion / knowledge / enduring of travail / were poured forth more plentifully then ever they were / either before / or shall be after. By reason whereof the pastors and ministers of the churches that were then / were (I speak generally / and of the estate of the whole Church) better furnished with the gifts needful for their ministry / then are the ministers of these days. Whereupon I conclude that if the aid and assistance of the pastor by the Elders / was thought necessary by the apostles in those times / when the ministers were so well / and so richly replenished with such gifts / much more is that aid and assistance meet for the ministers of these days / wherein their gifts of discretion and knowledge / and diligence / are not so plentiful. For if they whose eye sight was so clear to perceive / whose hands so nimble to execute / had need for their aid / of other eyes & other hands / then the ministers now / whose eyes are dimmer / and hands heavier then theirs were / have much more need of this aid then they had.

Now seeing Maister Doctor can shew vs no cause why they may not as well be now / as in the tyme of the Apostles / as well vnder a christian prince as vnder a tyrant / I will shew hym that although they be alwayes necessary / yet there is better cause why they should rather be now then in the apostles times / greater necessyty vnder a christian prince / then vnder a tyrant. First of all in the apostles tymes it is knowne that the giftes of the spirite of wisedome / discretion / knowledge / enduring of trauaile / were poured forth more plentifully then euer they were / eyther before / or shall be after. By reason whereof the pastoures and mynisters of the churches that were then / were (I speake generally / and of the estate of the whole Church) better furnyshed with the giftes needefull for their mynistery / then are the mynisters of these dayes. Wherupon I conclude that if the ayde and assistance of the pastor by the Elders / was thought necessary by the apostles in those tymes / when the mynisters were so well / and so richly replenished with such giftes / much more is that ayde and assistance meete for the mynisters of these dayes / wherein their giftes of discretion and knowledge / and dyligence / are not so plentifull. For if they whose eye sight was so cleare to perceiue / whose handes so nimble to execute / had neede for their ayde / of other eyes & other handes / then the mynisters now / whose eyes are dimmer / and hands heauier then theirs were / haue much more neede of thys ayde then they had.