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…

The last place which is alleged by the admonition / is out of the epistle to Tim. ¹where it showeth / that for so much as the estate of a minister / is as that of a soldier / & therefore as the soldier / to the end he might the better please his captain / & do his service of warfare / quitteth all those things which he loveth / & whereof otherwise he might have care / and might enjoy: even so the minister ought to dispatch him self of all those things which may be any let to the office of his ministry / although he might otherwise lawfully use them. And if so be for the performing of the ministry to the full / he must quite those things which he may lawfully use / how much more might the admonition conclude that he ought not to entangle himself with those things / which (out of the places of S. Luke / and to the Romans) it had showed to be unlawful for him to meddle with? And although M. D. say the sentence be general / yet it is particularly meant / and most properly of the ministers / which Master Calvin teacheth M. Doctor in the same place / where he hath cited his authority twice to no purpose. For what although M. Calvin do not there apply in prescript words this sentence to prove that ministers ought not to meddle with civil offices / doth it follow therefore that this place can not be used thereto? In saying that he ought to abstain from all lets which may hinder his vocation & ministry / he doth consequently say / that he ought to abstain from all civill offices. And if so be M. Doct. had been so well red in the ancient doctors (as he would seem) he might have known that this place is used of * Cyprian / to the same purpose that it is alleged here. For Cyprian ²speaking against an elder which had taken upon him to be executor to one which was dead / allegeth this place. To these reasons of the admonition / may be added that which the admonition hath in the. 230. page / that the regiment of the church is spiritual / and respecteth the conscience / & therefore hath not to do with civill offices / which respect properly the common wealth / and the outward godly honest / and quiet behaviour.

The last place which is alledged by the admonition / is out of the epistle to Tim. ¹where it sheweth / that for so much as the estate of a minister / is as that of a souldier / & therfore as the souldyer / to the end he myght the better please hys captaine / & doe hys seruice of warfare / quitteth all those things which he loueth / & whereof otherwyse he might haue care / and might enioy: euen so the mynister ought to dispatch hym selfe of all those things which may be any let to the office of hys mynistery / although he might otherwise lawfully vse thē. And if so be for the performing of ye ministery to the full / he must quite those things which he may lawfully vse / how much more might the admonition conclude that he ought not to entangle himselfe with those things / which (out of the places of S. Luke / and to the Romaines) it had shewed to be vnlawfull for hym to meddle with? And although M. D. say the sentence be generall / yet it is particularly ment / and most properly of the mynisters / which Maister Caluin teacheth M. Doctor in the same place / where he hath cited hys authoritie twise to no purpose. For what although M. Caluin doe not there apply in prescript words thys sentence to proue that mynisters ought not to meddle with cyuill offices / doth it follow therefore that thys place can not be vsed thereto? In saying that he ought to abstayne from all lets which may hinder his vocation & ministery / he doth cōsequently say / that he ought to abstayne from all ciuill offices. And if so be M. Doct. had bene so well red in the auncient doctors (as he would seeme) he might haue knowen that thys place is vsed of * Cyprian / to the same purpose that it is alledged heere. For Cyprian