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 that the places quoted by the admonition / are for the most part to the purpose of that they be quoted for / I will add a reason or two to this purpose / before I come to answer to those reasons which are brought by M. Doctor. Here I must desire the reader to remember (which I said before / when I spake agaynst non residencie) the multitude & difficulty of those things which are required of the minister of the word of God. And with all I will leave to the consideration of every one / the great infirmity and weakness which is in men / both the which considerations set together / it will easily appear how unmeet a thing it is / that the minister should have any other charge laid upon him / seeing that it being so weighty an office / as will require all the gifts he hath / be they never so great / it must needs fall out / that so much as he doth in an other calling / so much he leaveth undone in this. And what the hand of man is able to reach herein / it is to be considered in the apostles / whom if the office of the ministry did so wholly occupy and set a work / that they could admit no other charge with it / yea / & were fain to cast of that which they had / it is clear that none of those which live now / can beside that function / admit any other public calling. The story is known in the Acts / that the apostles even during ¹the time that they kept together at Jerusalem / and taught the church there / were fain / that they might the better attend unto preaching and praying / (by which two things S. Luke summarily setteth forth the office of the ministry) to give over the charge of providing for the poor unto others / because they were not able to do both. Now for so much as the Apostles endued with such gifts as none have been since / or shall be hereafter / could not discharge together with the office of the minister that also of the deacon / how should any man be found / that together with that office / can discharge the office of a civill magistrate? And if the Apostles would not have the office of a Deacon / which was ecclesiastical / and therefore of the same kind with the ministry joined unto it / how much less will they suffer that the ministry should be joined with a civill office / and therefore of an other kind?

Now that I haue shewed that the places quoted by the admonition / are for ye most part to the purpose of that they be quoted for / I wil adde a reason or two to thys pourpose / before I come to answer to those reasons which are brought by M. Doctor. Here I must desire the reader to remember (which I sayde before / when I spake agaynst non residencie) the multitude & difficultie of those things which are required of the mynister of the word of God. And with all I wil leaue to the consyderation of euery one / the great infirmitie and weakenes which is in men / both the which consyderations set together / it will easely appeare how vnmeete a thing it is / that the mynister shoulde haue any other charge layde vppon hym / seeing that it being so wayghty an office / as will require all the gyftes he hath / be they neuer so great / it must needes fall out / that so much as he doth in an other calling / so much he leaueth vndone in thys. And what the hand of man is able to reach herein / it is to be considered in the apostles / whome if the office of the mynistery dyd so wholy occupy and set a worke / that they could admyt no other charge with it / yea / & were fayne to cast of that which they had / it is cleare that none of those which lyue now / can besyde that function / admytte any other publyke calling. The story is knowen in the Actes / that the apostles euen during