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…

An other of Master Doctors reasons is / that as kings do serve Christ by making laws for him / so bishops do serve Christ by executing laws for him. As though it pertained not unto the magistrates to execute laws / aswell as to make them / and as if the magistrate were not therefore called a speaking law / because by executing them / he doth cause the laws after a fashion to speak. This is to divide the stake of the magistrate / between him / and the bishop / yea to give the bishop the best part of it. For we know that with us / the people be at making of the laws / which may not meddle with the execution of them. And if M. Doctor say that he meaneth not hereby to shut the prince from executing the laws / then as his similitude (when it is at the best) proveth nothing: so by this means it halts down right / and is no similitude. As for Ely and Samuel they are extraordinary examples / which may thereby appear / for that both these offices first meting in Melchizedek / & afterward in Moses / were by the commandment of God severed / when as the Lord toke from Moses (being so wise & godly a man) the priesthood / & gave it to Aaron / and to his successors. And so / for so much as when the Lord would polish his church / & make it famous / & renowned in the world / he gave this order: It appeareth that he would have this to be a perpetual rule unto his church. And by so much it is the clearer / for that the Lord did not tarry until Moses death / but toke the priesthood away from ⟨p. 212⟩Moses / which was a man as able to execute both / as either Ely / or Samuel. And this may be also easily seen / for that in a manner always / where there was any good and stayed estate of the church / these offices were ministered by several persons / and then met & were mingled / when the estates were very ruinous and miserable. And if this be a good reason to prove that ministers may exercise civill offices / it is as good a reason to prove / that princes may preach / and minister the sacraments. For if the ministers may exercise civill offices / because Ely / and Samuel (being ministers) did so: the Princes / and Judges may preach the word / and minister the sacraments / because Ely and Samuel (being princes and judges) did so. And so we see / how M. Doctor going about / to defend one confusion / bringeth in an other.

An other of Maister Doctors reasons is / that as kinges doe serue Christ by making lawes for hym / so byshoppes doe serue Christ by executing lawes for him. As though it pertayned not vnto the magistrates to execute lawes / aswell as to make them / and as if the magistrate were not therefore called a speaking law / because by executing them / he doth cause the lawes after a fashion to speake. Thys is to deuide the stake of the magistrate / betwene hym / and the byshop / yea to geue the byshoppe the best part of it. For wee know that with vs / the people be at making of the lawes / which may not meddle with the execution of them. And if M. Doctor say that he meaneth not hereby to shut the prince from executing the lawes / then as hys similytude (when it is at the best) proueth nothing: so by thys meanes it haltes downe ryght / and is no simylitude. As for Elie and Samuell they are extraordinary examples / which may thereby appeare / for that both these offices first meting in Melchisedech / & afterward in Moses / were by the commaundement of God seuered / when as the Lord toke from Moses (being so wise & godly a man) the priesthode / & gaue it to Aaron / and to hys successors. And so / for so much as when the Lord would polishe hys church / & make it famous / & renoumed in the world / he gaue thys order: It appeareth that he wold haue this to be a perpetuall rule vnto his church. And by so much it is the clearer / for that ye Lord did not tary vntil Moses death / but toke the priesthode away frō