The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

But the law of God in this behalf / is most clear: which to the deciding of a weighty matter in doubt / requireth two witnesses / and if it can be three: and namely where the judgement is of blood / it expressly forbiddeth / that judgement should pass upon ¹the Testimony of one. But in the judgement of a minister / where the question is of a great number / of destruction of body / and soul / and that for ever: shall it being doubtful / be given upon one mans testimony / how sufficient so ever he be? Especially / seeing that there ought to be greater trial / and more plentiful witness in the church matters / than in civil causes. which may appear further / by that which S. Paul writeth unto Timothy: Where he willeth / that he should not receive an accusation against an elder / but upon two / or there witnesses. For wherein civill causes / even off blood / the judge may proceed unto the sentence off condemnation / upon two or three witnesses: S. Paul vvill not have Timothy / not so much as to receive an accusation / against an elder / without ⟨p. CLX⟩²so many. In civill causes a man may be driven to his purgation of blood / and to his answer / upon the accusation off one / although he can not be so condemned / without his own confession / or other trial / that falleth out after the accusation commenced: but the elder shall not be driven to answer upon one mans Testimony.

But the law of God in this behalfe / is most clere: which to the deciding of a vveighty matter in dowbt / requireth two witnesses / and if it can be thre: and namely where the iudgement is of bloude / yt expresly forbiddeth / that iudgement should passe vpon ¹the Testimonye of one. But in the iudgement of a minister / where the question is of a great numbre / of destruction of bodie / and soule / and that for euer: shall it being dowbtfull / be giuē vpō one mās testimonie / how sufficient so euer he be? Especially / seing that there owght to be greater triall / and more plentifull witnes in the churche matters / thē in ciuil causes. which may appeare further / by that which S. Paul writeth vnto Tymothie: Where he willeth / that he should not receyue an accusaciō against an elder / but vpō two / or there witnesses. For wherein ciuill causes / euen off bloude / the iudge may proceede vnto the sentence off condemnation / vppon two or thre witnesses: S. Paul vvill not haue Tymothie / not so muche as to receyue an accusation / against an elder / vvithowt