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…

And although both be unlawful / yet as the case standeth in our realm / it is more tolerable that the civill magistrate should do the office of a minister / then that the minister should intermeddle with the function of the magistrate. For when the accounts shall be cast / it will fall out / that there are more sufficient & able men to serve in the common wealth of this realm / then in the church / and greater want in the one then in the other. And if beside this / both authority of the word of God and light of reason / we will look unto the practise of the church many years after the time of the Apostles / we shall find that the church hath been very careful from time to time / that this order should be kept / that the ministers should not entangle them selves with any thing beside their ministry / and those things which the word of God doth necessarily put upon them / le•st the strength of their mind & of their body / being distracted unto many things / they should be the less able to accomplish their ministry unto the full. Which ⟨p. 210⟩may also partly appear by that which I have alleged out of Cyprian / which will not permit them so much as to be executors of a Testament. And in one of the Canons which are ascribed unto the Apostles it is enjoined that they ¹should not entangle them selves with worldly offices / but attend upon their Ecclesiastical affairs.

And although both be vnlawfull / yet as the case standeth in our realme / it is more tellerable that the ciuill magistrate should doe the office of a minister / then that the minister shuld intermeddle with the function of the magistrate. For when the accountes shall be cast / it will fall out / that there are more sufficient & able men to serue in the common wealth of thys realme / then in the churche / and greater wante in the one then in the other. And if besyde thys / both authoritie of the werd of God and lyght of reason / wee will looke vnto the practise of the church many yeares after the time of the Apostles / we shall finde that the church hath bene very carefull from time to time / that thys order should bee kept / that the ministers shuld not entangle them selues with any thing beside their ministery / and those things which the word of God doth necessaryly put vpon them / le•st the strength of their minde & of their body / being distracted vnto many thinges / they should be the lesse able to accomplishe their ministery vnto the full. Which