The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

Caput 2. Division 1. pag. 95.

Caput 2. Diuision 1. pag. 95.

IF he would have proved / that which I deny: he should have showed / that thes authorities affirmed / that the church in making laws off things / whereof the scripture hath not precisely determined / need not to have respect to the general commandments off the scripture before received. but that he is not able to do with any approved sentence. And albeit / he hath subscribed to this sentence before: yet in the end off this division / he beginneth to s•lyde into his former error / saying / that in matters not prescribed in the scripture, he can not tell whether to resort, to know the use and antiquity of them, but unto councils, stories, and doctors. As though the scripture were not the lord star unto the church / in her decrees touching such things: and as though the first churches which had not such stories &c. had not sufficient address in the light off the word off God / to make constitutions by. I grant the church by stories &c. understandeth of their antiquity: but the knowledge of their antiquity maketh little or nothing to know / how profitable / or convenient for the church they be: which being that only / which is looked into in there establishing / is drawn from the scriptures / and not from antiquity. Howbeit because he pretendeth agreement in this / that there be certain things left unto the order of the church with this condition / that they be done according to the general commandments off the Scripture: we will hold him by his former words / and will not suffer him to break from us / unless he do not only privily nibble and bite about / but in manifest words eat up / his former saying. Notwithstanding in the great plenty the A. hath off places / for the proof ⟨p. LXXVII⟩off this which we deny not: let it be observed / what partly unproper / partly ungodly choice / he hath made.

IF he would haue proued / that which I denie: he shoulde haue shewed / that thes authorities affirmed / that the churche in making lawes off thinges / wheroff the scripture hathe not precisely determined / neede not to haue respecte to the generall commaundements off the scripture before receiued. but that he is not hable to doo with any approued sentence. And albeit / he hathe subscribed to this sentence before: yet in the ende off this diuision / he beginnethe to slyde into his former error / saying / that in matters not prescribed in the scripture, he can not tel whether to resorte, to knowe the vse and antiquitie of them, but vnto councells, stories, and doctors. As thowge the scripture were not the loode starre vnto the churche / in her decrees towching suche thinges: and as thowghe the firste churches vvhhich had not suche stories &c. had not sufficient addresse in the light off the worde off God / to make constitutions by. I graunte the church by stories &c. vnderstandeth of their antiquitie: but the knowledge of their antiquitie maketh litle or nothing to know / how profitable / or conuenient for the churche they be: vvhich being that onely / vvhich is looked into in ther establishing / is drawne from the scriptures / and not from antiquitie. Howbeit because he pretendith agreement in this / that there be certeine thīges lefte vnto the order of the church with this cōditiō / that they be doone according to the generall cōmandements off the Scripture: we will houlde him by his former vvordes / and will not suffer him to breake frō vs / vnles he doo not onelie priuilie nibble and bite abowte / but in manifest wordes eate vp / his former saying. Notwithstanding in the great plentie the A. hathe off places / for the proofe