The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

Therefore to close up this question / I will ad this: That the magistrates which punish murder / and rheftes / and treasons / with other transgressions off the second table severely / and are lose in punishing the breaches off the first table / begin at the wrong end: and do all one with those / which to dry up many rivers fed continually by one fountain / begin at the channels where it divideth / and parteth it self into many arms: which as it is an endless labour / so is this also that they Goo about. For when as S. Paul teacheth / that God for just revenge off the dishonour off his name / and staining off his glory / ¹give the men into wicked minds / to the committing of all kind off since / contained in the second table / be they never so horrible / and so maketh the breach off the first table / cause off the breach off the second: it can not be (let the magistrate late as Good watch as he can / both multiply / and aggravate his punishments as much as he can) I say it can not be / but where ether the first table is broken / or the breach not duly revenged swarms off treasons / thefts / murders / adulteries / perjuries / and such like / must needs break out in those governments. And therefore as the short / and easy way to dry up the channels / and rivers ⟨p. CXVIII⟩is to stop the head / and fountain off all: so the only remedy of purging the common wealth off thes pestilences / is to bend the force off sharp and severe punishments / especially against Idolaters / blasphemers / contemners of true Religion / and off the service off God And therefore I conclude / that those which would have the severity of the law against Idolaters abated / do at unawares / not only thereby utter the small price which they set / ether off God's glory or of the salvation of their brethren: but withal declare them selves enemies to common wealths / and off all both civil / and Godly honesty of life.

Therfore to close vpp this question / I will ad this: That the magistrates whiche punishe murther / and rheftes / and treasons / withe other transgressions off the seconde table seuerely / and are lose in punishinge the breaches off the firste table / beginne at the wronge ende: and doo all one withe those / whiche to drie vpp many riuers fedd continually by one fountaine / begynne at the chanels where yt deuidethe / and partethe yt selfe into manie armes: whiche as yt is an endles labour / so is this also that they Goo abowte. For when as S. Paule teacheth / that God for iuste reuenge off the dishonor off his name / and staininge off his glorie /