The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

But therein you do him open injury / when you say / that his fault was as grievous as any bind of idolatry. For I beseech you is not the denial off the gospel / as great a fault / as the denial of Christ? so far therefore the faults are equal. In denying twice / he is matched with a great number off Idolaters / which at one clap have renounced him with mouth / and subscribed against him with their hand, and where he forswore him once / they have forsworn him oft / according to the number off dioceses / where they have had their livings / and diversity off times wherein such things have been required. That warning S. Peter had a little before / by the mouth off our Saviour Christ, they had by the voice off the minister / which hath the authority off Christ. That he did almost in the presence off his master, it seemeth by that which hath followed in some / they would have done / if he had stood / and looked on.

But therein yow doo hym open iniurie / when yow saye / that his faulte was as greauous as any binde of idolatrie. For I beseche yow is not the denyall off the gospell / as greate a faulte / as the deniall of Christe? so farre therfore the faultes are equall. In denyinge twise / he is matched withe a greate number off Idolaters / whiche at one clapp haue renounced hym withe mouthe / and subscribed againste hym with their hande, and where he forsware hym once / they haue forsworne hym oft / according to the number off dioceses / where they haue had their lyuinges / and diuersytie off tymes wherin suche thinges haue bene required. That warning S. Peter had a lytle before / by the mouthe off our Sauiour Christe, they had by the voice off the minister / whiche hathe the authoritie off Christe. That he did almoste in the presence off his master, yt semeth by that whiche hathe folowed in some / they woulde haue done / yf he had stoode / and loked on.

But let that increase his fault / yet this circumstance maketh it not so great / that where Peter denied Christ cast down / or in time off his humility: they have denied him risen from the dead / ascended up into heaven / fitting on the right hand• off God the father in glory. I leave to be considered / whether hitherto the fault off Saint Peter / be not only matched / but also overweighed. Now for a surcrease / and overrunning measure / S. Peter did it to save his skin / they to save their honour: He for his life / they for their living. I speak favourably / for otherwise I might say of some / that they did it not only to save that