The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

Where I show that forsomuche as the Archdeacon is reproved ¹of Jerome / for preferring him self before an elder / because the scripture maketh him inferior unto the elder: by the same reason / a bishop is to be reproved / for that he preferreth himself before an elder / which the scripture maketh his equal: he answereth / he seeth no sequel, nor likelihood. notwithstanding I trust there is none that hath but his common sense / which doth not easily understand / that it is no more lawful for those which are ordained equals by the scripture / to lift them selves one above an other: then it is lawful for him that is appointed to be under / ⟨p. DXC⟩to exalt him self above his superior. for although he be in greater fault / which being under exalteth him self above / then he which magnifieth him self above his equal: yet as the ordinance off God causeth. the one to be unlawful / so it doth the other. The second answer is / there may be degrees amongest the ministers, notwithstanding all this, for that Jerome saith there was a degree. This is a very blunt answer. I allege both authority off the scripture / and Jeromes own reason against the distinction off one bishop from the rest: and he answereth that the distinction is good / for Jerome so saith. Thirdly / although Jerome confess that a bishop and an elder be all one by the scripture: yet he confesseth superiority off a bishop before an other elder. but he saith they are all one by the scripture: and that the bishop is superior by custom. And here he stitcheth in a parenthesis. For after he had alleged Jerome / confessing that a bishop and an elder are all one by scripture: he addeth (as they be in deed touching the ministry). Thereby desirous (as it seemeth) to abuse his simple reader / in making him believe that Jerome meant / that there was by the scripture difference in policy / between a bishop / and an other minister: which overthroweth the whole intent of Jerome. For he showeth that this difference (which the D. in other places termeth / for order, and Policy) between a bishop and an other minister / was not by the scripture / but by custom: and began at Alexandria. And seeing Jerome putteth a difference / between the bishop specified in S. Paul / and the bishop in his time: if the Answ. say that S.

Where I shew that forsomuche as the Archdeacon is reproued ¹