The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

yet thereby followeth not / that an Elder which preached / was so. Where he saith / I falsify Cyprian, and that it is too great boldness to say, Privatus was condemned by 90. Bishops of one Province: the truth is / Cyprian saith not they were off one Province. But forsomuch as Privatus was off the same Province with Cyprian / and controversies rising in every Province / were for the most part voided by bishops of the same: onles a general Council can ⟨p. DXXXIX⟩be showed / a Provincial is presumed. beside that / it is unlike that Cyprian / to then tent he might draw Privatus into greater hatred / would have omitted that circumstance off General Council / if it had been. And where he asketh / what if there were so many bishops in one Province? whether it he concluded thereof / that every several congregation / had her bishop: I answer that if there were 90. Bishops in one Province off Africa / and that were observed then / which ether the most common practise off all times hath taught / or which was ordained after ward in the Councils ¹off Africa / that the Bishops off every Province being parted into two / or three companies / out off every off them certain should be sent in the name off the rest / whereby a greater number remained at home / then came to the council: and that be also remembered / that there were divers places / where there were Novatian Bishops: and further that the most part of towns / and cities being heathen / and Idolatrous had no bishops at all / as it was in those daies: Ad hereunto that in Stephen Bishop off Romes time / which lived in the same time with Cyprian / there ²were innumerable catholic bishops: Lastly in those times of persecutions / the number off them which professed the Gospel in one town / being for the most part so few / that four or five of the next towns / were scarce sufficient to make a competent assembly / able to maintain the ministry: I say all thes things considered / and bound up together: I think it will appear unto the indifferent reader / that every congregation where the word of God was preached / and sacraments administered / had a several bishop. For if they had been such bishops as ours / although the whole world had been Christian: a little Arithmetic would have served / to count them. Where he saith / the Patriarch off Antioch, had 160. Bishoprics underneath him: