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…

These things standing in this sort / all those Courts of bishops and archbishops must needs fall / which were by Antichrist erected against this lawful jurisdiction of Eldership / as the court of faculties / and those which are ⟨p. 188⟩holden by chancellors / commissaries / officials / and such like / the describing of the corruptions whereof / would require a whole book / of which I will note the principal heads and sums.

These thyngs standing in thys sorte / all those Courtes of byshoppes and archbyshoppes must needes fall / whych were by Antichrist erected against thys lawfull iurisdiction of Eldership / as the courte of faculties / and those whych are ⟨p. 188⟩holden by chauncellors / commissaries / officials / and suche lyke / the describyng of the corruptions wherof / would require a whole boke / of whych I will note the principall heads and summes.

First / for ye they enter into an office which pertaineth not unto them / but to every particular church / and especially to the eldership or governors of the church / and therefore although they should do nothing but that which were good / lawful / and godly / yet can they not approve their labours unto men / much less to God / putting their sickle in an other mans harvest. For neither by the truth of the word of God doth that appertain unto them / neither by M. Doctors own judgement (if his yea were yea / and his nay nay) considering that he said before / that this jurisdiction belongeth to the ministers. And although it should pertain unto the Bishop / (as he is called) to whom notwithstanding it doth not appertain) yet were it not lawful for him to translate this office unto an other / and to appoint one to do it when he listeth / no more then he can appoint them to do his other offices of ministering / as preaching the word / and ministering the sacraments.

First / for ye they enter into an offyce whych pertaineth not vnto them / but to euery particulare church / and especially to the eldershyp or gouernoures of the church / and therfore although they should do nothing but that whych were good / lawfull / and godly / yet can they not approue their labors vnto men / much les to God / puttyng their sickle in an other mannes harnest. For neyther by the truthe of the worde of God dothe that appertayne vnto them / neyther by M. Doctors owne iudgement (if hys yea were yea / and hys nay nay) consydering that he sayd before / that thys iurisdiction belongeth to the ministers. And although it should pertaine vnto the Byshop / (as he is called) to whom notwythstanding it dothe not appertaine) yet were it not lawfull for hym to translate thys office vnto an other / and to appoynt one to doe it when he lysteth / no more then he can appoynt them to doe hys other offyces of ministring / as preaching the worde / and ministring the sacraments.