The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

And whereas he asketh / how could that be, when they had but one part off their life known Christ: not to speak off the Jewish widows / which might have led their whole life in good / and holy works in deed: he must learn / that S. Paul doth not there speak only off good works / which are the fruits of faith: but calleth those good works / which are civilly / and in outward show / and estimation off men good. So that he requireth / that those only be chosen amongst the women / which were never detected off any notable crime: but have always lived in an honest / civil behaviour amongest their neighbours. And thus S. Luke calleth those women religious, and honest, ¹which were moved to persecute S. Paul. There was nether true Religion / nor honesty in them / but so he calleth them / because they were so esteemed. S. Paul also saith off him self / when he was the enemy off Christ / that he was before his conversion / as ²touching the justice of the law, unblamable: Which must needs be understanded / off a civil / and outward kind off justice / and not off any good works / which were true fruits off the spirit off God. Hereof he requireth / that he that is to be chosen ³bishop / should have the Testimony off strangers from the church: that is to say / which lived with out breach off that civil honesty / which the very heathen have in recommendation. Which Testimony he could never have if he were known / to be either a drunkard / or an adulterer / &c. the knowledge off which crimes / God hath written / so deeply in the heart off man / that no ignorance off God / or savageness off life / could ever raze it out. So you see S. Paul / might require a Testimony of good behaviour off the whole life of those / which had led put a part of it in Christianity.

And wheras he asketh / howe coulde that be, when they had but one parte off theire lyfe knowen Christe: not to speake off the Iewishe widowes / which might haue led their whole life in good / and holy worckes in deede: he muste learne / that S. Paule dothe not there speake onely off good workes / which are the fruictes of faithe: but callethe those good workes / whiche are cyuilly / and in owtewarde shewe / and estimacion off men good. So that he requireth / that those onely be chosen emongest the weomen / which were neuer detected off any notable cryme: but haue allwaies lyued in an honeste / cyuill behauiour amongest their neighboures. And thus S. Luke calleth those vveomen religious, and honeste,