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 first of all I well agree / that he saith / that to give unto satan (which is to excommunicate / and to correct an Ecclesiastical person by reprehension / or putting him out of the ministry / if the case so require) is mere ecclesiastical / and not civill / and that those things ought to be done of the officers of the church. This only I deny / that the ministers ought to meddle with civill offices. For proof whereof / the B. allegeth the example of Augustine / which as Possidonius writeth / was troubled with the hearing & determining of causes. Wherein Possidonius sayeth nothing / but that I willingly agree unto. For the minister with the elders / ought both to hear / and determine of causes / but of such causes / as pertain unto their knowledge / whereof I have spoken before. And that Possidonius meant such causes as belonged unto Augustin / as he was a minister / and not of civill affairs / it appeareth by that which he writeth immediately after / where he saith. Being also consulted of / by certain in their worldly affairs / he wrote epistles to divers / but he accounted of this / as of compulsion / and restraint from his better businesses: whereby it appeareth / that S. Augustine meddled not with those worldly affairs / further / then by way of giving counsel / which is not unlawful for a minister to do / as one friend unto an other / so that his ministry be not thereby hindered. And for the truth of this matter / that ministers ought not to meddle with civill affairs / I will appeal to no other / then to the bishop him self / who doth affirm plainly the same / that the ¹admonition here affirmeth.

And first of all I wel agree / that he sayth / that to geue vnto sathan (which is to excommunicate / and to correct an Ecclesiasticall person by reprehensyon / or putting hym out of the ministerye / if the case so require) is meere ecclesiasticall / and not ciuill / and that those thyngs ought to be done of the offycers of ye church. Thys only I deny / that the ministers ought to meddle wyth ciuill offyces. For proofe whereof / the B. alledgeth the example of Augustine / whych as Possidonius wryteth / was troubled wyth the hearing & determinyng of causes. Wherin Possidonius sayeth nothyng / but that I willingly agree vnto. For the minister wyth the elders / ought bothe to heare / and determine of causes / but of suche causes / as pertaine vnto their knowledge / whereof I haue spoken before. And that Possidonius ment such causes as belonged vnto Augustin / as he was a minister / and not of ciuill affaires / it appeareth by that whych he wryteth immediatly after / where he sayth. Being also consulted of / by certen in their worldly affaires / he wrote epistles to diuers / but he accompted of thys / as of compulsyon / and restraint from hys better busynesses: whereby it appeareth / that S. Augustine medled not wyth those worldly affaires / further / then by waye of giuing counsell / whych is not vnlawful for a minister to do / as one friend vnto an other / so that hys mynisterye be not thereby hindered. And for the truthe of thys matter / that ministers ought not to meddle wyth ciuill affaires / I will appeale to no other / then to the byshop hym selfe / who dothe affirme plainly the same / that the