The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

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 ¹but especially to those which are off the how should of faith: ⟨p. LXIII⟩it must needs follow off the contrary / that we ought not to do hurt unto any / but especially unto those / which are off the household off faith. And this degree doth our Saviour Christ him self note / when he thundering against offences / addeth this as an increase / and an higher step in sin: if be it done against one of those which believe in him. ²And where he saith / that strangers may be so withdrawn, whereas there can be no such fear off those which are already members off the church: he speaketh both contrary to all experience / and directly contrary to the Apostle / which disputing in this case ³of offence / saith that the weak brother perisheth through thes offences.

His thirde exception / that I added this worde especiallie to the texte, is a mere cauill. For althowghe I vsed that worde / more then is in the texte: yet I bothe kepte the meaning / and layde y• more open vnto the symple reader. And wher he sath / that the Apostell would haue men more carefull off offending those whiche are not yet come to the churche, then those which be off yt: yt is altogether vntrew / and not onely againste the meaning off the Apostle / but against the generall rule off loue: wherin thes degrees are assigned / that we (leuing all men) should especially loue those / which are members off the same bodye with vs. Whereupon yt foloweth / that the fruictes off loue (wheroff this is one off the principall / that we iue no occasion off offense) owght rather to be performed toward them off the churche / then towardes straungers. And y being certaine which S. Paul saithe / that we muste doo Good vnto all