The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

Against that which I said off Ecclesiastical discipline / instituted in the 18 / off S. Matthew for contemners and neglecters off the word / and common prayers: it is said / and said with great words / that that place is to be understanded off secret and particular faults, and not off open, and known. Whereas it is more then manifest / that if the scripture giveth authority to reprehend private faults: it doth mich more authorise to rebuke public faults. And if those faults / which are done against one man: much more those which are done against the whole church. And if those which are done against the profit off men: mich more against those / which are done against the glory off God. And if upon refusal off Admonition / in those particular and secrete cases / he will have the church proceed to excommunication: how mich more will he / that that proceeding be observed in thes open faults? And it is to childish / thus continually to stumble at this: that the words off the scripture should have no farther reach / then to that special case whereof express mention is made in the text: and to leave no place to arguments off like / of more to the less / off less to the more / of contraries &c. and thereby to cut off all meditation off the word of God / to destroy a great part off the use off teaching in the church. Albeit in following his own interpretation / the contemners or neglecters off the word and prayers / may well be subject to this rule / (for it may come to pas that one may contemn the word / &c. And yet in that manner as it shall be known ⟨p. LXVII⟩wne only unto one what opinion he nourisheth of them) yet because that is not always / let us see further / what unskilfulness it is which the A. doth so greatly accuse in this allegation.

Against that which I saide off Ecclesiasticall discipline / instituted in the 18 / off S. Mathew for contemners and neglecters off the worde / and common praiers: yt is saide / and saide with greate wordes / that that place is to be vnderstanded off secret and particuler faultes, and not off open, and knowne. Wheras yt is more then manifest / that if the scripture giueth authoritie to reprehende priuate faultes: yt doothe myche more authorise to rebuke publike faultes. And if those faultes / which are doone againste one man: miche more those which are doone against the whole churche. And iff those which are doone againste the profit off men: myche more against those / which are doone againste the glorie off God. And if vppon refusall off Admonition / in those particuler and secrete cases / he will haue the churche procede to excommunication: how myche more will he / that that proceeding be obserued in thes open faultes? And yt ys to childishe / thus continually to stumble at this: that the wordes off the scripture shoulde haue no farther reache / then to that speciall case wheroff expresse mention is made in the texte: and to leaue no place to argumentes off like / of more to the les / off les to the more / of contraries &c. and therbie to cut off all meditation off the worde of God / to destroye a greate parte off the vse off teachinge in the churche. Albeit in folowinge his owne interpretation / the contemners or neglecters off the worde and praiers / maye well be subiecte to this rule / (for it maye come to pas that one maye contemne the worde / &c. And yet in that manner as it shall be known