The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

Now of the two reasons / to prove that Jerome put a difference between a bishop / and an elder / this is the first: the one is a name of age, and the other of dignity. which is as much to say / as they differ in deed / because they differ in name: and that the ancients / and elders off the people off Israel / were not their governors / because the name aff ancients is a name off age / and the other of honour: or as if the eldest brother were not the heir / because the one is a name of age / the other of honour. Whereas Jeromes purpose is plainly to show / that although the names be divers: yet the things are all one. And if there be any dignity shut up in this name bishop / the ministers are partakers of it: considering that he affirmeth that they be bishops. And if there be any inferiority noted / by the name off elder: the bishop hath his part in it / for so much as he is an elder. Although the truth is / that by the word (dignity) Jerome meant nothing but an office: and called the name off bishop / the name off a dignity / because ¹the office draweth dignity with it. And because of reverence which the younger give to the elder / as also for that ministers and bishops / were often taken from them which were well grown in age: they were called elders. So that although the name (elder) be the name off age: yet it draweth as much honour after ⟨p. DXCII⟩it / as the name off bishop.

Nowe of the twoo reasons / to proue that Ierome put a difference betweene a bishop / and an elder / this is the firste: the one is a name of age, and the other of dignitie. which is asmuch to saie / as they differ in deede / because they differ in name: and that the auncientes / and elders off the people off Israell / were not their gouernours / because the name aff auncientes is a name off age / and the other of honor: or as if the eldest brother were not the heir / because the one is a name of age / the other of honor. Wheras Ieromes purpose is plainly to shew / that althowgh the names be diuers: yet the thinges are all one. And yf there be anie dignitie shut vp in this name bishop / the ministers are partakers of it: considering that he affirmeth that they be bishops. And if there be any inferioritie noted / by the name off elder: the bishop hathe his parte in yt / for so muche as he is an elder. Althowghe the trwthe is / that by the worde (dignitie) Ierome mente nothing but an office: and called the name off bishop / the name off a dignitie / becawse