The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

Moreover if our Sa. Christ by his coming / loosed thes civil punishments / and purchased this grace off his Father / for blasphemers / &c. that if they could find favour in the eyes off the Magistrate / they might escape the hands off death / which the law off God adjudged them unto: how cometh it to pass / that the Apostles / to whom the Lord committed the publishing off all that pardon / which he obtained for us / did never make mention off the slacking of these punishments? If our Sa. Christ / had obtained this liberty / it was worthy the preaching. ⟨p. C⟩And therefore onles the A. can show something / out off the writings off the Apostles / to warrant this sanctuary / which he would so fain build to the support off blasphemers / murderers / &c. it followeth / that the Apostles (by his saying) have not answered the trust committed unto them. But if all godly minds do abhor these absurdities / there is no cause / why they should like of this corruption off the Doctor / whereupon all these depend. Na / in that the Apostle putteth a sword in the hand off ¹the Magistrates / and in the use off it maketh him a Minister / and servant off the vengeance and justice off the Lord against sin: he striketh through this opinion / which imagineth that our sa. Christ / came to hang the sword off the Lords justice / upon the pleasure and vvill off men. For the Magistrate being the Lords officer / as the Sheriff is the Magistrates: it is no more in his choice / to withhold the sword / which the lord hath put in his hand to draw: then in the power off the Sherif / to stay the execution off that judgement / which the magistrate him self hath lawfully commanded. Now seeing there is a sword in the Magistrates hand / by the doctrine off the Apostles / and that also which the magistrate must of duty draw: I would gladly know off the A. where that necessity can be found / if it be not in these crimes of blasphemy / &c. Which I have set down? And if he say that S. Paul by the sword / understandeth all manner off civill punishments / as well by the purse / as by other bodily chastisements / which spare the life: I grant it / but by an used manner off speech / which noteth the whole by the part / he rather chose to utter those punishments by the sword / than ether by the whip / or by the purse.

Moreouer if our Sa. Christe by his comming / loosed thes cyuill punishementes / and pourchased this grace off his Father / for blasphemers / &c. that if they could finde fauour in the eies off the Magistrate / they might escape the handes off death / which the lawe off God adiudged them vnto: howe cometh it to passe / that the Apostels / to whom the Lord committed the publishing off all that pardon / which he obteined for vs / did neuer make mention off the slacking of these punishements? Yf our Sa. Christe / had obteined this libertye / yt was worthye the preachyng.