The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

Where he saith moreover / the care of the whole flock was committed unto him I see not how he can conclude thereof / that the bishop was over a whole diocese such as ours. it might rather be ⟨p. DXCIIII⟩concluded / that he had charge off one only congregation: considering that although him self alone were thought able to care for one congregation: yet there is none which would think him self alone / able to care for a whole diocese. And beside that the churches should be in miserable case / if none should care for them but every bishop in his diocese: let the D. stretch out the bishops jurisdiction as far as he can / yet I have showed out off the Emperors letters to the bishop of Alexandria / that the elders off the same church where he abode / had a joint care with him over all. Which is also confirmed by the testimony the Ans. hath alleged out off M. Fox: where not the bishop only / but his church ¹also / is said to have the oversight off the precincts which pertained unto him. And Jerome him self / showing that the elders ²ought to govern in common with the bishop, can not be thought to give unto the bishop the whole care of the church / as peculiar unto him alone: onles a man will make him contrary to him self. For if they have the government in common with him: they have the care in common / for so much as there can be no government without care. So that where Jerome saith / the care off the whole church was committed unto one: it must be understanded so / as it may be level with his other saying: especially when he saith / that a bishop differed from his elder, only in ordination.

Where he saith moreouer / the care of the whole flock was committed vnto him I see not how he can conclude therof / that the bishop was ouer a whole diocese suche as ours. yt might rather be ⟨p. DXCIIII⟩concluded / that he had charge off one onely congregation: considering that althowghe him selfe alone were thowght hable to care for one congregacion: yet there is none which would thinck him self alone / able to care for a whole dioces. And beside that the churches should be in miserable case / if none should care for thē but euery bishop in his dioces: let the D. stretch owt the bishops iurisdiction as far as he can / yet I haue shewed owt off the Emperours letters to the bishop of Alexandria / that the elders off the same church where he abode / had aioynt care with him ouer all. Which is also confirmed by the testimonie the Ans. hath alledged owt off M. Fox: where not the bishop onely / but his church