The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

And if a man should judge / off the most fittest manner of choosing off ministers / by the event: I am well assured / that all the Ecclesiastical stories extant / are not able to furnish us / of so many unworthy ministers / chosen by all the churches throughout the world / which have been since the Apostles times: as have swarmed thes few years / out of the palaces / as out of the Trojan horse: off that small number off Bishops / which are in England. Of the other side / if a man will cast his eyes into France / ⟨p. CXLVIII⟩both in persecution / and in peace / and from thence look into the churches of some parts of Savoy / and yet stretch them ow• farther / to certain common wealths in Germany / and come home to our neighbours the Scots: and compare generally the ministers chosen off the churches / with the most part off those which the bishops make: (if he love not him self to much / and be not a stubborn defender off that he hath undertaken) he shall be compelled to confess / as much difference between the one / and the other: as between gold / and coper / or any other refuse metal. And yet their is nothing / which the Ans. doth suppose may come to pass here / which may not happen to them all a part / and to the greatest part off them / altogether. And therefore for any thing yet alleged / the bishops election is further off then before / and the equity off the churches consent / in choosing off Ecclesiastical officers / more apparent.

And if a man should iudge / off the most fittest maner of chusinge off ministers / by the euent: I am well assured / that all the Ecclesiasticall stories extant / are not able to furnishe vs / of so many vnworthie ministers / chosen by all the churches throwgheowt the world / vvhich haue bene since the Apostles times: as haue swarmed thes fewe yeares / out of the palaces / as owt of the Troiane horse: off that smale nombre off Bishops / which are in England. Of the other side / if a man will cast his eies into Fraunce / ⟨p. CXLVIII⟩bothe in persecution / and in peace / and from thence looke into the churches of some partes of Sauoie / and yet stretche them ow• farther / to certeine commen wealthes in Germany / and come home to our neiggbours the Scottes: and cōpare generally the ministers chosen off the churches / withe the most parte off those which the bishops make: (if he loue not him selfe to muche / and be not a stubborne defender off that he hathe vndertaken) he shalbe compelled to confesse / as muche difference betwene the one / and the other: as betwene gould / and coper / or any other refuse metall. And yet their is nothing / which the Ans. doth suppose may come to passe here / which may not happen to them all a part / and to the greatest parte off them / altogither. And therfore for any thing yet alleadged / the bishops election is further off then before / and the equitie off the churches consent / in chusinge off Ecclesiasticall officers / more apparant.