The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

And because I am entered into the mention off this / although the answerer can not hyrte off it: yet the truth is / that even in thes outward punishments / the dispensation off God under the law / is divers from that which is under the gospel. For under the schoolmastership of the law / as he crowned the obedience of it / for the most part / with greater abundance off outward blessings / then he doth the obedience off his saints under the Gospel: so did he with more terrible / oftener / and more manifest judgements / revenge the breach off it in that time / than he doth now. And herein indeed is the difference which he is groping a bowte: but that this should bring any diversity / in the set and ordinary punishments / prescribed by the law: I for my part can not understand / The contrary rather I can gather. For even as although the lord doth not now by outward blessings / give so plentiful testimony unto the obedience off the gospel / as then off the law: yet the magistrate ought to be as diligent / to procure the Good off the church / as ever he was in the time off the law: even so / although the lord by bodily punishments / doth not so severely revenge as he did then: yet the magistrate / may not remit any thing therefore off that severity / which he was wont to use. Nay more: even as the magistrate / ought so much more carefully procure / the outward welfare of the church now: as the lord withdraweth his hand that ways / more now / then he did then: even so ought he to keep / by so much a harder hand / over the punishment off sin now / then he did then: as the lord / more rarely thundereth by his Judgements from heaven / now / then he did in the time off the law.

And because I am entred into the mention off this / althowghe the answerer can not hyrte off yt: yet the trewthe is / that euen in thes outwarde punishmentes / the dispensation off God vnder the lawe / is diuers from that vvhiche is vnder the gospell. For vnder the scolemastershipe of the lawe / as he crowned the obedience of yt / for the moste parte / vvithe greater aboundance off owtward blessinges / then he dothe the obedience off his sainctes vnder the Gospell: so did he vvithe more terrible / oftener / and more manifeste iudgementes / reuenge the breache off yt in that time / thē he dothe nowe. And herein indeede is the differēce vvhiche he is gropinge a bowte: but that this shoulde bringe any diuersitie / in the set ād ordinarie punishemētes / prescribed by the lawe: I for my parte can not vnderstand / The contrarie rather I can gather. For euen as althowghe the lorde dothe not nowe by owtward blessinges / giue so plentifull testimonie vnto the obedience off the gospell / as then off the lawe: yet the magistrate owghte to be as diligente / to procure the Good off the churche / as euer he vvas in the time off the law: euen so / althowghe the lorde by bodilie punishementes / doothe not so seuerelie reuenge as he did then: yet the magistrate / maye not remitte any thinge therfore off that seueritie / vvhiche he vvas vvonte to vse. Nay more: euen as the magistrate / owghte so muche more carefully procure / the owtwarde vvelfare of the churche nowe: as the lorde vvithdrawethe his hande that vvaies / more nowe / then he did then: euen so owghte he to kepe / by so much a harder hande / ouer the punishemente off synne now / then he did then: as the lorde / more rarely thundereth by his Iudgements from heauen / nowe / then he did in the time off the lawe.