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…

Again / if S. Paul did charge the persecuted / & therefore pore churches / ¹with the finding and providing for the seniors in every church (as it appeareth in the Epistle to Timothy / where he sayeth that Elders which rule well / are worthy double honour / whereby he signifieth a plentiful reward / and such as may be fully sufficient for them and their households / as when he biddeth that the widow which served the church in attending upon the sick / and upon the strangers should be honoured / that is / have that wherewith she might honestly and soberly live) if I say Saint Paul would charge the churches then with maintaining the elders / which being poor / were not sometimes able to live without some relief from the church / because they were compelled oftentimes to leave their own affairs / to wait of the affairs of the church: how ⟨p. 179⟩much more ought there now to be seniors / when the churches be in peace / and therefore not so pore / and when there may be chosen such for the most part throughout the realm / as are able to live without charging the church any whit / as the practise of these days doth manifestly declare.

Agayne / if S. Paule dyd charge the persecuted / & therefore pore churches / ¹with the fineding and prouiding for the senyors in euery church (as it appeareth in the Epistle to Timothe / where he sayeth that Elders whiche rule well / are worthy double honour / whereby he signifyeth a plentifull rewarde / and suche as may be fully sufficient for them and their housholdes / as when he biddeth that the widdow which serued the churche in attending vpon the sicke / and vppon the straungers shoulde be honoured / that is / haue that wherewyth shee might honestly and soberly liue) if I say Saynt Paule woulde charge the churches then with mayntayning the elders / which being poore / were not sometimes hable to liue without some reliefe from the church / because they were compelled oftentimes to leaue their owne affaires / to wayte of the affaires of the church: how ⟨p. 179⟩much more ought there now to be senyors / when the churches be in peace / and therefore not so pore / and when there may be chosen such for the most part thoroughout the realme / as are able to liue without charging the church any whit / as the practise of these dayes doth manifestly declare.