The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

I brought three reasons off comparison / to prove that the word off god is a rule to square out / whatsoever thing is to be done in the ordering off the church: and the A. in calling them bare words / hath made a quick dispatch off them / saving that his marginal note / doth keep the wont off untrue surmising. which upon that I compare the government / with chains and bracelets / saith: that I account it more precious / then the doctrine. As if the apparel which clotheth the nakedness / were not always more necessary / and sometime also more precious / then those jewels. And if I had not this defence: yet if I had fallen upon an adversary which had not been disposed to trifle / the law off comparisons / (which exacteth not likelihood in all things / but only in that where in the comparison is made) would have cleared this margin.

I brought three reasons off comparison / to proue that the worde off god is a rule to square out / whatsoeuer thinge is to be doone in the orderinge off the church: and the A. in callinge them bare wordes / hathe made a quicke dispatche off them / sauinge that his marginall note / dothe kepe the wonte off vntrue surmisinge. which vpon that I compare the gouernement / with chaines and bracelets / saithe: that I account yt more pretiouse / then the doctrine. As iff the apparell which clothethe the nakednes / were not alwayes more necessarie / ād sometime also more preciouse / then those iewels. And if I had not this defence: yet if I had fallen vppon an aduersary which had not bene disposed to trifle / the lawe off comparisons / (which exacteth not likelihood in all thinges / but onely in that where in the cōparisō is made) would haue cleared this margēt.

To the Division 4. pag. 84. The Admonition said / that nothing ought to be established in the church, which is not commanded by the word off God: the A offended herewith / condemned this saying: the reply showeth / how the saying of the A. is maintainable / namely for that though there ⟨p. LVI⟩be not express words for every thing / which may be established: yet there are general commandments / whereby all things which can fall into any Ecclesiastical consultation / are to be directed. The A. (to maintain his sudden / and unadvised condemnation) saith: that in those things which are varied by time / and other circumstances / and whereof there is no precise determination in the word off god: it is enough that they be not against the word of God. So that this is the difference between the Adm. and him: they will have those things not only not to be against the word / but to be grounded upon the word: and he sayeth / it is enough they be not against the word. Wherein if there were no diversity / the Ans. is in fault: which in his greediness off finding fault / condemneth that in the Adm. which he is constrained to allow off. But in deed they are not all one. For albeit it can not be / but that which is not agreeable unto the word off God / is against the word off God: and off the other side / that which is not against the word off God / is agreeable unto it: yet he that so saith / that certain things must be done not against the word / that he will not also accord / that they should be done according to the word: giveth thereby to understand / that there is some star or light off reason / or learning or other help / whereby some act may be well done / and acceptably unto God / in which the word off God was shut out / and not called to counsel: as that which either could not / or need not / give any direction in that behalf. Now in this later book / and in this division he saith: that nothing ought to be done in the church, but according to the true meaning off the word. And afterward saith / that he agreeth unto this sentence off mine: that in making orders, and ceremonies off the church, it is not lawful to do what men list: but they are bound to follow the general rules off the scripture / that are given to be a squire / whereby those are to be squared out. And thus in the end the A.