The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

The council off Carthage (which ordained that none might be received again to the ministry / which had defiled him self with Idolatry) is here rejected: the reason whereof is also added / for that the same Council decreed, rebaptizing off those which were baptized by Heretics: The Ans. may throw away the authority off a council / because of an error in it / without either scripture / Doctor / or council: when I do it / not without either all thes authorities / or at the lest / off the scripture: it is cried out against / as an unlearned shift, and I can not tell what. But I am contented you shall throw a way the council off Carthage / which established that error: yet you shall not throw away that / wherein it was agreed / against restoring off ministers / fallen into Idolatry. How so? Because they were decreed in several councils. For proof thereof / I allege the words off Cyprian. And when there be other both many / and grievous faults / where with ¹Basilides / and Marshal are inwrapped: such do in vain goo about ⟨p. CLXXXIII⟩/ to occupy the place off a bishop. Seeing it is manifest / that such men may not govern the church off Christ / nor offer up sacrifices unto God. Especially when off late / both with us / and with all the bishops in the world / even Cornelius also / our fellow in ministry peaceable / and just / and whom the lord vouchsafed the honour off a Martyr / decreed / that such men might be admitted to repentance / but should notwithstanding be kept from the honour of the clergy / or ministry. Of this place I conclude / that forasmuch as the Council of Carthage / was provincial / as that which was gathered off the bishops off Africa / Mauritania / and Numidia / and this general / as that which was assembled of all the bishops of the world: that the council wherein this was determined / is not the same which determined rebaptization. Again at this council Cornelius was / and gave his consent: at the other he was not / neither would ever give his consent. And so also is answered / that which you cite out of the second book off Cyprian / and first epistle / that for so much as / the council that there is spoken off / was in Stephanus time / the bishop off Rome:

The councell off Carthage (whiche ordeined that none mighte be receiued againe to the ministerie / which had defyled him selfe with Idolatrie) is here reiected: the reason whereoff is also added / for that the same Concell decreed, rebaptizing off those whiche were baptized by Heretikes: The Ans. maye throwe awaye the authoritie off a councell / because of an error in yt / withowte either scripture / Doctor / or councell: when I doo yt / not withowte either all thes authorities / or at the leste / off the scripture: yt is cried owte againste / as an vnlearned shifte, and I can not tell what. But I am contented yow shall throwe a waie the councell off Carthage / which established that error: yet yow shall not throwe awaie that / wherin it was agreed / againste restoring off ministers / fallen into Idolatrie. How so? Because they were decreed in seuerall councels. For profe theroff / I alledge the wordes off Cyprian. And when there be other boothe many / and greuous faultes / where withe