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 touching the funeral sermons M. doctor taketh on / & triumpheth marvellously / as though he had already gotten the victory: but he that girdeth his harness / should not boast as he that putteth it of. There is more matter then peradventure M. doctor is aware of / & that which is set down / he answereth not: as that it nourisheth an opinion that the dead are the better for it / which doth appear in the there are none more desirous of funeral sermons / then the papists / which although they can not abide the doctrine which is preached / yet they will have such sermons / and those which will very seldom / or not at all / be at other sermons / will not commonly miss one of these. Furthermore / for so much as the minister is driven oftentimes by this means to preach upon a sudden / the word of God thereby is negligently handled / especially of those whose gifts are not so great / as that they can provide in so small time / and by this negligent handling of the word of God / it is brought into contempt.

Nowe touching the funerall sermons M. doctor taketh on / & tryumpheth maruellously / as though he had already gotten the victorye: but he that girdeth hys harnes / should not boast as he that putteth it of. There is more matter then peraduenture M. doctor is aware of / & that whych is set downe / he answeareth not: as that it norysheth an opinion that the dead are the better for it / whych doth appeare in ye there are none more desirous of funerall sermons / then the papists / whych although they can not abide the doctrine whych is preached / yet they wil haue suche sermons / and those whych will very seldome / or not at all / be at other sermons / will not commonly misse one of these. Furthermore / for so much as the minyster is driuen oftentimes by this meanes to preach vpon a sodaine / the word of God therby is negligently handled / especially of those whose gyftes are not so great / as that they can prouide in so small time / and by thys neglygent handlyng of the word of God / it is brought into contempt.

Moreover / considering that these funeral sermons are at the request of rich men / and those which are in authority / and are very seldom at the burial of the pore / there is brought into the church (contrary to the word of God) an acceptation of persons / which ought not to be. For although the minister may give to one more honour then to an other / according as the calling or degree requireth / yet in his ministry / & that which pertaineth unto his office / he ought to show himself indifferent / and therefore preach as well at the death of the pore / as of the rich: and because he can not well do both / it is most convenient to leave both. If