The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

Unto my reason in the second Division / that if an examination ¹be necessary for a deacon it is much more necessary for the minister, (against that he said / that the sixth off the Acts, could not serve to prove any thing, touching the ministers election, because it was off deacons) he answereth not / but passeth by quietly / and maketh no words. But his other saying / that there is no mention made off any trial, he holdeth still for good / asking me what one word off trial is there? I answer / that albeit there be not this word try, yet there is that which wayeth as much: for the greek word look ²out, can not be severed from a trial. And if S. Luke had but used the simple verb / which in our tongue signifieth consider / yet that off it self had force to have lead the choosers to a trial / off them which were to be chosen: now using the compound / thereby he laid upon them / a greater necessity / and a more careful diligence off trial off them. Where if the Apostles had not meant hereby / to have called the church to a diligent search / and trial ⟨p. CXXVIII⟩off those which were to be chosen: they would have contented them selves to have said / take from amongst you, &c. And although the whole church had knowledge off those which were the fittest to be chosen to that office (which is both unlike / and almost impossible / seeing there were certain thousands off late added unto the church): yet even those which are well known unto us / when they be to be chosen unto such great charges / are to be inquired into a fresh. For that knowledge off a man / which is sufficient for us to live with him in private society / and common course off life / is not enough to promote him to such a dignity in the church: and that experience off one / upon confidence whereof we durst trust him with our weightiest affairs / is not sufficient thereupon to commit unto him the lords matters. So that considering the weight off an ecclesiastical office / the manifold crevices off mans dissimulation / with the dullness off our sight to espy them: there can be no fear off too much trial / even off those which we think we know already. And therefore although the whole church / had knowledge off those which were apt for that office:

Vnto my reason in the second Diuision / that if an examination