The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

That it can not be drawn further / appeareth by that in the beginning off this treatise: where it is manifest he straineth him self / to speak honourably off the manner off discipline in the elder churches: yet he saith / ^hthere was almost nothing against the word off God. And further / that although there may be some lack in their orders: yet because they did it oft good mind and erred not much, it is good to gather it. Moreover touching that institution which off all other is most plausible / and least princelike / that one in a church should have the name off bishop / which notwithstanding (as hath been showed) had no dominion / nor authority to command the rest / he saith: ⁱthat authority had no institution, nor ground out off the word of God. Whereupon it is manifest / those words off Calu. (the old bishops did frame no kind off government but prescribed in the lords word) can not be drawn further then I have said. Where he expoundeth Calvins words / every singular body off church, a diocese or province: it is (as all the rest off these divisions) a shameful boldness / considering that Calu. doth in express words / shut forth a province: and in calling it a singular body, used most proper words to set forth a congregation which assembled into one place / may at once be fed at one mouth.

That it can not be drawen further / appeareth by that in the beginning off this treatise: where it is manifest he streineth him selfe / to speake honorably off the maner off discipline in the elder churches: yet he saith / ^hthere vvas almost nothing againste the vvord off God. And further / that althovvgh there may be some lack in their orders: yet because they did it oft good mynd and erred not muche, it is good to gather yt. Moreouer towching that institution which off all other is most plausible / and least princelike / that one in a churche should haue the name off bishop / which notwihstanding (as hathe bene shewed) had no dominion / nor autoritie to commaunde the reste / he saithe: ⁱthat autoritie had no institution, nor ground ovvt off the vvord of God. Wherupon yt is manifest / those wordes off Calu. (the ould bishops did frame no kind off gouernement but prescribed in the lordes vvord) can not be drawen further then I haue said. Where he expoundeth Caluins wordes / euery singular bodie off church, a dioces or prouince: yt is (as all the rest off these diuisions) a shamefull bouldnes / considering that Calu. doth in expresse wordes / shut forthe a prouince: and in calling it a singular bodie, vsed moste propre wordes to set forthe a congregation which assembled into one place / may at once be fed at one mouthe.