The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

a The sixth Article which M. Barnes was condemned for / is this: I vvill never believe, nor can never believe, that one ¹man may by the law off God, be bishop off two or three cities, yea off an whole country: for that it is contrary to the doctrine of S. Paul, which writing unto Titus, commandeth that he should ordain a bishop in every town: proving that by the word elder / the Apostle meaneth a bishop. ^bM. Hooper showing that one man may not have two livings / addeth: but this is claw me, and I vvill claw thee. If the bishops permitted not their priests to have 2. benefices, it may fortune the priests would likewise say, the bishop should be bishop but of one city. And in deed so it should be: and till magistrates bring them to that point, it shall he as possible to hear a bishop wade godly, and simply through the scripture in all case off religion, as to drive a camel through the eye of a needle. A great ⟨p. DXXVII⟩pity it is to see, how far the office off a bishop is degenerated, from the original in the scripture. It was not so in the beginning when bishops were at the best, as the Epistle to Tite testifieth: that willed him to ordain in every city of Crete a bishop. And in case there were such love in them now, as was then towards the people: they would say them selves, there were more to do for the best off them in one city, then he could do. They know the primitive church had no such bishops. until the time off Sylvester the first, &c. Off thes things partly / and partly of that which shall be hereafter (God willing) spoken / I leave it to be esteemed off the indifferent reader / with how small ether knowledge / or conscience the D. hath affirmed that it can nether be showed by scripture / nor confirmed by any ecclesiastical writer / or practise off the primitive church: that ether every church should have her bishop / or that there should be bishops in villages / and small Cities.

a The sixte Article which M. Barnes was condemned for / is this: I vvill neuer belieue, nor can neuer belieue, that one ¹man maie by the lavve off God, be bishop off tvvoo or three cyties, yea off an vvhole contrey: for that yt is contrary to the doctrine of S. Paul, vvhich vvriting vnto Titus, commaundeth that he should ordeine a bishop in euery tovvne: prouing that by the worde elder / the Apostell meaneth a bishop.