The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

To the places which I alleged out off the word off god / to prove that an argument drawn of the authority off the scripture negatively / is good: he answereth / that the examples which I bring / be of things of great importance / and forbidden in other places of the Scripture. I grant they are so / and that maketh much against him: for that the Lord having this advantage against the Israelites / off charging them that they had done contrary unto his commandment / chose rather to say after this sort / that they had done that which he had not commanded, thereby to teach his to hang upon his mouth. And the answerer ought to have considered / that the reason is general which the prophets use: which otherwise should be no reason at all. And it may be showed / that the same manner off argument / hath been used in things which are not off the substance off salvation or damnation / and whereof there was no commandment to the contrary. In Joshua / the children of Israel are charged by the Prophet / that they asked not counsel off the mouth off the lord / when they entered into covenant with ¹the Gibeonites: and yet that covenant was not made contrary unto any commandment of god. For howsoever it seemeth to some / that upon the words off Moses / they ought to have been put to death / being of those nations which dwelt in the inheritance off the people off god: yet if it be considered what the causes were / why they might not enter in to league with them (which was / lest they dwelling amongest them should draw them to a false worship of god:) it will not be ²hard to understand / but that with condition off yielding themselves / both to the subjection of the Jews / and to their institution in the Religion of god (as thes did) they might be received.

To the places which I alledged owte off the worde off god / to proue that an argument drawne of the authoritie off the scripture negatiuely / is good: he answereth / that the examples which I bringe / be of thinges of great importance / and forbidden in other places of the Scripture. I graunt they are so / and that maketh much against hym: for that the Lorde hauinge this aduantage against the Israelites / off charginge them that they had doone contrarie vnto his commaundement / chose rather to saye after this sorte / that they had doone that vvhich he had not commaunded, therby to teache his to hange vppon his mowthe. And the answerer owght to haue considered / that the reason is generall whiche the prophetes vse: which otherwise shoulde be no reason at all. And it maye be shewed / that the same manner off argument / hathe bene vsed in thinges which are not off the substance off saluacion or damnation / and wheroff there was no commaundement to the contrary. In Iosuah / the children of Israell are charged by the Prophete / that they asked not counsaile off the mouthe off the lorde / when they entred into couenant with