The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

The next reason is very strange / that every one which is a member off the invisible church, should be a minister off the visible. For by this means / may be taken not only the most unablest in the church: but those also / which are not yet called to the church. But your meaning is / if he be off the church / and other things correspondent. yet one off those conditions is no where expressed / and the other is almost thirty lines before in an other section / and in an other case: so that it is dangerously spoken / and may give very great ⟨p. CLXXI⟩occasion off offence. And I leave it to the consideration of the te• der / how often you have quarrelled / where there is nothing the like occasion / as you give by this looseness.

The next reason is verie straunge / that everie one which is a membre off the inuisible church, should be a minister off the visible. For by this meanes / may be taken not onelie the most vnhablest in the church: but those also / which are not yet called to the church. But your meaning is / if he be off the church / and other thinges correspondent. yet one off those conditions is no where expressed / and the other is almost thirtie lines before in an other sectiō / ād in an other case: so that it is daungerously spoken / and may gyue very great ⟨p. CLXXI⟩occasion off offense. And I leaue it to the consideratiō of the te• der / how often yow haue quarreled / vvhere there is nothing the like occasion / as yow giue by this losenes.

I will also let goo / your unproper / and unwonted speech / whereby you make one / and the same / at one / and the same time / a member off the visible / and invisible church. For seeing the invisible church upon earth / is off those only / which either are not called / or lie hid / and ungathered unto any known fellowship where the word of God is preached / and the sacraments administered: he which by repentance joineth him self to the visible church off God / can not be said to be a member off the invisible church. For as when the triumphant church is opposed unto the militant / one man / at one time / can not be said to be a member off both: so here where you oppose the visible / and invisible church / it can not be that he that is said / to be a member off the one / should be also a member off the other. But for answer I say / that if there were here any comparison at all / yet it halteth down right: although we ought charitably to think / that he that hath given good tokens off repentance / hath truly repented / and therefore is of the elect church of God: yet that foundation always remaineth / that when the question is of an others mans election / God knoweth who are his. So that you can draw no argument from