The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

He saith / this example of the matter carried to Jerusalem, proveth that every parish within it self, hath no absolute authority to end controversies, but it behoveth to resort unto the chief church: the contrary whereof appeareth. For in that they both debated the cause amongest them selves / and when they could not agree / decreed to send it to Jerusalem: it is sufficiently declared that they had authority to end it amongest them / and that it was not wrung from them by necessity off law / or pretence off higher authority: but voluntarily sent up to Jerusalem. Although for this place in hand it is sufficient / that the deciding off controversies hung not upon the mouth off one man / were he never so sufficient: but were referred unto the assemblies of the Ancients / and ministers of the word. As for his old shifts of the weakness of negative arguments of authority, and of examples of the scripture, and the apostolic church: their folly is opened before. Here he taketh on against my unskilfulness in the scriptures, which referred that unto ministers ⟨p. DLXXVI⟩¹which is spoken off all the church. Howbeit if he had conferred the text / he should have found that the apostle speaketh of the Prophe thes / and not of the whole church. For he biddeth that ^btwo or three of the Prophets should speak, and the other (that is to say Prophets) should give judgement. Which appeareth by the reason added / ^cthe sprite off the Prophets is subject to the Prophets. Therefore the D. corrupteth the place / and the argument to prove that not one minster / but many ought to determine of doubtful causes / is untouched.

He saith / this example of the matter caried to Ierusalem, proueth that euery parish within yt self, hath no absolute autoritie to end controuersies, but it behoueth to resort vnto the cheif church: the contrary wherof appeareth. For in that they both debated the cawse amongest them selues / and when they coulde not agree / decreed to send yt to Ierusalem: yt ys sufficiently declared that they had autoritie to end it amongeste them / and that yt was not wrunge from them by necessitie off law / or pretence off higher autoritie: but voluntarily sent vp to Ierusalem. Althowgh for this place in hand yt ys sufficient / that the deciding off controuersies hung not vppon the mouth off one man / were he neuer so sufficient: but were referred vnto thassemblies of the Auncients / and ministers of the word. As for his olde shiftes of the weaknes of negatiue argumentes of autoritie, and of examples of the scripture, and thapostolike church: their folie is opened before. Here he taketh on against my vnskilfulnes in the scriptures, which referred that vnto ministers