A18080:395
The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright
The second reply of Thomas Cartwright: against Master Doctor Whitgiftes second answer, touching the Church disciplineThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright: agaynst Maister Doctor Whitgiftes second answer, touching the Churche discipline
Heidelberg: printed by Michael Schirat, 1575
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Tract. 2. and 3. according to the D. Off election of the minister.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The holy ghost by Jethro / prescribing what officers should 1be chosen / doth not only require / that they should fear God (which is to say / be of good religion) be wise / and valiant: but also requireth 2that they be trusty, which (as appeareth by other places off the Scripture / where this here commanded / was put in execution) signifieth such as were faithful / and trusty to the commonwealth / and which had of their former life / given good arguments off there fastness that way. Therefore if in choice to the great / and weighty charges off the common wealth it is not enough ⟨p. CLXXIII⟩that they be of good Religion / able also for their wisdom / and courage off mind to execute: unless they have been found faithful in that estate / wherein they have lived before: how much more ought that to be observed / in committing the greatest charge / that is under the sun / which is the Ministry off the word? And if in common wealths / men vvill commit no great trust unto him / which hath deceived the trust / which was put upon him: how much more ought that to be observed in the church? Where as the loss / and danger is greater: so ought the trust to be slower / and the parties to whom it should be committed / more unsuspected. And yet for further confirmation he must understand / that for as much as our Saviour Christ / and S. Paul require / that a minister off the word off God should be faithful in his office: as those to whom the choice belongeth / ought to have regard to his former sobriety / continency in life / and other virtues / to induce them selves to a good persuasion off him / touching those virtues: so ought they upon his former life / to gather such arguments of his faithfulness / and trust: as thereby they may be able to maintain a strong / and mighty presumption off the faithfulness which is to come. which thing when they can not do in one / whose untrustiness is fresh before their eyes: they can not have sufficient testimony / to persuade their conscience / that he is of that trust / to whom they may commit the church of God. For if they look upon repentance which he professeth: it cometh always to mind / that countenance / the eyes do lie oftentimes / and mouth oftenest off all. And albeit upon good / and likely tokens / the church ought to think it a true repentance: