The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

And when the Lord did afterward give testimony unto this punishment / by the express words of his law: it is manifest / that the law which God hath written / in the table off the hearts of all men / pronounceth the sentence off death against adulterers. So that onles men / will like Giants fight against the light of nature / or say that our Sa. Christ / came to abolish that which in all times / and with all nations (not altogether spoiled off the discretion off honesty / and dishonesty) was observed: it followeth / that the punishment off death against adulterers / and consequently much more against incestuous meetings / standeth in as full force now / as ever it did / before the coming of our Sa. Christ. And when as adultery being the least off those faults which I have set down / is found worthy of death. It is easy to see / what is the judgement off the rest.

And when the Lord did afterward gyue testimonie vnto this punishement / by the expresse wordes of his lawe: yt is manifest / that the lawe which God hath written / in the table off the hartes of all men / pronounceth the sentence off death agaynst adulterers. So that onles men / will like Gyantes fight agaynst the light of nature / or saye that our Sa. Christe / came to abolishe that which in all times / and with all nations (not alltogether spoiled off the discretion off honestie / and dishonestie) was obserued: yt foloweth / that the punishement off death against adulterers / and consequently muche more against incestuous meetinges / standeth in as full force nowe / as euer yt did / before the cōming of our Sa. Christe. And when as adulterie being the least off those faultes which I haue set downe / is found worthy of death. Yt is easye to see / what is the iudgement off the reste.

Howbeit having spoken somewhat before / off the civill punishment off those which offend against the service off God / and more being to be said upon occasion afterward: that the necessary punishment off murderers by death / may have with the rest some particular defence / let some thing be said thereof. First the consent off all nations (were they never so savage) in punishing this sin with death / teacheth that it is the law of nature: which can not be broken / nor dispensed with. it is further to be noted / that the causes remaining / whereupon that necessity off punishment by death / was grounded in the law: the punishment must still remain. The Lord showeth these causes /