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…

Moreover those that be learned know / that the government of the church which was in the apostles times / being partly in respect of the people that had to do in the elections and other things popular: partly in respect of the pastors and ancients Aristocratical / that is the rule of the best: I say they know that these governments do easily decline into their contraries / and by reason thereof both the government of those which were most virtuous / might easily be changed into the government of few of the richest / or of greatest power / and the popular estate might easily pass to a confused tumult. Now this incommodity were they more subject unto under a tyrant / then under a godly prince. For they had no civil magistrate which might correct and reform those declyninges when they happened. For the tyrants did not know of it / and if they had known of it / they would have been glad to see the churches go to wrack. Therefore now we have a godly civil magistrate / which both will & ought to remedy such declinings & conversions of good government into evil / it followeth that this estate & government by ancients / is rather to be used under a christian prince then under a tyrant.

Moreouer those that be learned know / that the gouernement of the church which was in the apostles tymes / being partly in respect of the people that had to doe in the elections and other things popular: partly in respect of the pastors and auncientes Aristocraticall / that is the rule of the best: I say they know that these gouernmentes do easely declyne into their contraries / and by reason therof both the gouernment of those which were most vertuous / might easely be chaunged into the gouernment of few of the richest / or of greatest power / and the populare estate might easely passe to a confused tumulte. Now thys incommoditie were they more subiect vnto vnder a tyrant / then vnder a godly prince. For they had no cyuill magistrate which might correct and reforme those declyninges when they happened. For the tyrantes dyd not know of it / and if they had known of it / they would haue bene glad to see the churches goe to wracke. Therfore now we haue a godly ciuil magistrate / which both wil & ought to remedy such declinings & conuersions of good gouernment into euill / it followeth that thys estate & gouernmēt by auncientes / is rather to be vsed vnder a christian prince then vnder a tyrant.