A18080:183
The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright
The second reply of Thomas Cartwright: against Master Doctor Whitgiftes second answer, touching the Church disciplineThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright: agaynst Maister Doctor Whitgiftes second answer, touching the Churche discipline
Heidelberg: printed by Michael Schirat, 1575
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
His second exception is / that by this means the orders off the church, should be subject to one or two mens liking, or misliking. which answer proceedeth off two foul an oversight / and want off understanding off the word offence, For Saint Paul by offence / doth not mean displeasure / or discontentment: but that whereby / occasion is given to any / of sin and transgression off the law off God / which may as well be with allowance / as disallowance / when all are pleased with that which is done / as when they are displeased. And therefore in that signification which Saint Paul and our saviour Christ before him take this word offence / the church ought to 1provide / that there be no offence given to one alone.
His seconde exception is / that by this meanes the orders off the churche, shoulde be subiecte to one or twoo mens liking, or misliking. which answer procedeth off two foule an ouersight / and wante off vnderstandinge off the worde offense, For Saint Paule by offense / doothe not meane displeasure / or discontement: but that wherby / occasion is giuen to anie / of synne and transgression off the lawe off God / which maie as well be with alowance / as disalowance / when all are pleased with that which is doone / as when they are displeased. And therfore in that signification which Saint Paul and our sauiour Christ before him take this word offense / the churche owghte to 1prouide / that there be no offense giuen to one alone.
His third exception / that I added this word especially to the text, is a mere cavil. For although I used that word / more then is in the text: yet I both kept the meaning / and laid y• more open unto the simple reader. And where he saith / that the Apostle would have men more careful off offending those which are not yet come to the church, then those which be off it: it is altogether untrue / and not only against the meaning off the Apostle / but against the general rule off love: wherein thes degrees are assigned / that we (leaving all men) should especially love those / which are members off the same body with us. Whereupon it followeth / that the fruits off love (whereof this is one off the principal / that we ive no occasion off offence) ought rather to be performed toward them off the church / then towards strangers. And y being certain which S. Paul saith / that we must do Good unto all