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 whereas in the policy of M. Doctor it seemeth a furtherance to the gospel to join these together which was also the policy of the Idolaters / (as I have before declared) in the wisdom of God it hath seemed far otherwise / which I doubt not did therefore separate the ministry from this pomp / which is commendable in the civil magistrate / least the efficacy and power of the simplicity of the word of God and of the ministry should be obscured / whilst men would attribute the conversion of souls unto the gospel (dew unto the word and to the spirit of God) to these glorious shows. And least whilst the minister have the word in one hand / and the sword in the other / men should not be able to judge so well in their consciences of the mighty operation of the word of God in them. For they might doubt with them selves / whether the fear & out ward show of the minister / carried some stroke with them in believing the word.

And whereas in the pollicy of M. Doctor it semeth a furtherance to the gospell to ioyne these together which was also the pollicy of the Idolaters / (as I haue before declared) in the wisedome of God it hath semed farre otherwyse / which I doubt not dyd therfore separate the ministery from thys pompe / whiche is commendable in the cyuill magistrate / least the efficacy and power of the simplicitie of the word of God and of the mynistery should be obscured / whilest men would attribute the conuersion of soules vnto the gospell (dew vnto the worde and to the spirite of God) to these gloryous shewes. And least whylest the mynyster haue the woorde in one hande / and the sword in the other / men should not be able to iudge so well in their consciences of the mighty operation of the worde of God in them. For they might doubt with them selues / whether the feare & out ward shew of the mynister / caryed some stroke with them in beleuing the word.

But M. Doctor sayeth / that civil offices are not to be counted worldly affairs / but heavenly and spiritual / it is so / and yet when they are compared with the ecclesiastical offices / they may be called secular offices / for so much as they together with the care of religion / procure and provide for the things whereby we may quietly and commodiously live here / where the ecclesiastical offices are immediately and only bent / to procure the glory of God and the salvation of men / and in that signification of heavenly & spiritual which you take / merchandise / husbandry / and the handy craft be heavenly and spiritual / although not in the same degree. All lawful callings came from God / & return to him again / that is / he is both author of them / and they ought to be referred to his glory / so that if the minister may exercise all things which be heavenly / and spiritual / you may as well bring him down to the plough / as promote him to the court. And whereas M. Doctor saith that the office of a commissioner is ecclesiastical / because it handleth ecclesiastical causes / I marvel that he is so ignorant / that he can not put a difference between giving judicial sentences / and appointing bodily punishments (which are mere civil) and between the understanding the truth of every such cause according as the word of God defineth of it: which is a thing common as well unto the magistrate as unto the minister / and wherein the minister because he ought to be most ready / ought (if need be) consulted with.