The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

S. Peters, and S. Pauls admissions unto the Apostleship, was to be handled in the next section / where I prevent these objections / and give no occasion to speak off them here: yet they are plucked in before the time / and barely affirmed / without any confutation off the reasons / which I allege. What confusion is this / and how loathsome repetitions are these?

S. Peters, and S. Paules admissions vnto the Apostleshipp, was to be handled in the next section / where I preuent these obiections / and giue no occasion to speake off them here: yet they are plucked in before the time / and barely affirmed / withowt any confutation off the reasons / which I alledge. What confusion is this / and how lothsome repetitions are these?

I say that one that hath been an adulterer / should not be received into the ministry: I prove it / for that S. Paul will not admit one to the ministry / that hath had two wives at once. And that it ought to be extended / not only to the time off his choice / but also to the rest off his life: I prove by that which is said / of the choice of the widow / where S. Paul maketh this one ¹condition / that she should be such a one / as hath had but one husband at once / and which had not been married unto another / after an insufficient divorce. For that that is the meaning off the Apostle (although Master Calvin followed an other sense) is very plentifully / and substantially showed by M. Beza. Whereupon I concluded / if S. Paul would not admit her to the lowest office in the church / which at any time had two husbands: much less his meaning was / to admit to the chiefest office in the church / one which at any time had had two wives at once. This the Answerer / as though he had never seen or hard off it / passeth by: for what answereth he? Forsooth that he doubteth not. but the whoremonger if he repent, &c. may be admitted unto the ministry. And if I should have answered / I doubt not the contrary: What then? what answereth he further? that S. Pauls mind is not, to seclude him that had two wives, or hath been a whoremonger, &c. I have denied it / and have showed the reason off the contrary: he hath answered nothing. For where he afterward speaketh of the widow / which be denieth can be said, to have led all her life in good works: he answereth not to that / wherein the point off the reason lieth / which is / that she ought not to be admitted, which hath had more husbands at once then one: if that be granted unto me: it is