The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

Thes high words / that he remembereth no learned writer new nor ¹old, which denieth that there were few professors of the gospel in the Apostles times, in respect off those profess now: what have they beside ⟨p. CCXXXV⟩a crake? And in respect off the old writers / it is absurdly said. For how could they compare the number of the professors of our times, with those which were in the primitive churches / onles they should prophesy: seeing they were dead long before? And maketh it for you / if the new writers do not deny this? If it he no good reason from the scripture negatively, in those things which it professeth to speak off: is it good from other writers / and from one part off them / in things which they make no profession of▪ I looked therefore you should have brought some / which by affirming that you say: might if not make it true / yet at the lest seem true. I could off your challenge take occasion / to bring all the peregrination off Saint Paul / declared in the Act. Epistles / and especially in the 15. Rom. drawn to my hand / by which appeareth that he for his part only / had caused the Gospel to sound in more then half off the world. I could also fetch in Euseb. and Jerome / which testify what the other Apostles did ²for their part. I propounded that which I said without proof, because the things are manifestly known / and such as can not be denied: you affirm without all proof that in controversy / and whereupon your cause in your judgement dependeth / that no one part off the world, no one city, no one the least town, received the gospel wholly in the Apostles time.

THes highe wordes / that he remembreth no learned writer new nor ¹oulde, which denieth that there were fewe professors of the gospell in the Apostels times, in respecte off those professe nowe: what haue they beside ⟨p. CCXXXV⟩a crake? And in respecte off the oulde writers / yt is absurdly saide. For howe coulde they compare the nomber of the professors of our times, with those which were in the primitiue churches / onles they shoulde prophecie: seinge they were dead long before? And maketh yt for yow / if the newe writers doo not denie this? Iff it he no good reason from the scripture negatiuely, in those thinges which yt professeth to speake off: is it good from other vvriters / and frō one parte off them / in thinges which they make no profession of I looked therfore yow shoulde haue browghtesome / vvhich by affirming that yow saie: mighte if not make it true / yet at the leste seeme true. I could off yowr chalenge take occasion / to bringe all the peregrination off Sainct Paul / declared in the Act. Epistles / and especially in the 15. Rom. drawen to my hand / by which appeareth that he for his parte onely / had caused the Gospell to sounde in more then halfe off the worlde. I coulde also fetche in Euseb. and Ierome / which testifie vvhat the other Apostels did