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 that I have showed the place / I will say no more / I will leave it to M. Doctor to think of it in his chamber by him self / and so will conclude this question: that for so much as this order is such / as without which / the principal ⟨p. 183⟩offices of charity can not be exercised: and that it is that which is commaū dead by the scriptures / approved and received by all the churches in the Apostles times / and many hundred years after in the most flourishing churches / both in time of peace / & in time of persecution: and that there are greater causes why it should be in the time of peace / then in time of persecution / why rather under a christian prince / then under a tyrant / why rather now / then in the apostles times / that in consideration of these things / the eldership is necessary / and such an order as the church ought not to be without. And so also is answered the third question / that for so much as they were church officers / and over the people in matters ¹pertaining to God / & such as watched over the souls of men / that therefore although they were not pastors to preach the word / yet were they no lay men (as they term them) but ecclesiastical persons. The rest comprehended in these sections / is answered before / being matter which pertained unto the archbishop.

Now that I haue shewed the place / I wyll say no more / I wyl leaue it to M. Doctor to thinke of it in his chamber by hym selfe / and so will conclude this question: that for so much as thys order is such / as wythout whych / the principall ⟨p. 183⟩offices of charity can not be exercysed: and that it is that which is commaū ded by the scryptures / approued and receyued by all the churches in the Apostles tymes / and many hundreth yeares after in the most flouryshing churches / bothe in tyme of peace / & in tyme of persecution: and that there are greater causes why it should be in the tyme of peace / then in tyme of persecution / why rather vnder a christian prince / then vnder a tyrant / why rather now / then in ye apostles times / that in consyderation of these things / the eldershyp is necessary / and such an order as the church ought not to be wythout. And so also is answeared the third question / that for so much as they were church offycers / and ouer the people in matters