The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

And unless that S. Peter meant to subject those unto the trial off the church / which were to be chosen: why instructed he the church / and gave a rule to sever / and try them by? After the ⟨p. CXXII⟩church agreed / either by voice / or by silence / that they were such as behoved: S. Peter went forward / and conceived a prayer as followeth there in the text. And that this is the plain / and natural order off that action: he that hath but one eye / may easily see. The scripture is short / and in a few words comprehendeth many things: and touching certain points off a story / leaveth other to be gathered off the diligent reader: sometimes which was done before / by expressing that which was done after: other sometimes that which is done after / by expressing that which was done before. Whereof (if need were) it is not hard / to show divers examples: And thereof is that sentence so often used off the Hebrew Doctors / [Greek or Hebrew] The Scripture stayeth it self upon, or presumeth an understanding reader: without the which it shall seem very unsufficient / that is most perfect / and without the which / a great portion off the word of God / is lost.

And vnles that S. Peter mente to subiect those vnto the tryall off the churche / which were to be chosen: why instructed he the churche / and gaue a rule to seuer / and trie them by? After the ⟨p. CXXII⟩churche agreed / eyther by voice / or by silence / that they were suche as behoued: S. Peter wente forwarde / and conceiued a praier as followethe there in the texte. And that this is the plaine / and naturall order off that action: he that hathe but one eye / may easely see. The scripture is shorte / and in a few wordes comprehendeth many thinges: and touchinge certein pointes off a storie / leauethe other to be gathered off the diligent reader: sometimes which was doone before / by expressing that which was doone after: other sometimes that which is doone after / by expressing that which was doone before. Whereoff (yff neede were) yt is not harde / to shew diuers examples: And theroff is that sentence so often vsed off the Hebrew Doctours / 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 The Scripture stayeth yt selfe vpon, or presumeth an vnderstanding reader: withowt the vvhiche yt shall seme very vnsufficient / that ys most perfect / and vvithowt the which / a greate portion off the vvorde of God / ys loste.