The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

When I say there be no known drunkards / or whoremongers in the church: I speak off that which should be / unto which meaning the tenure off my disputation would have led you / if you had been willing to follow. For you opposing that for a bar unto the peoples election / the effect off my answer was: that it is not meet to take advantage off this / that there be many such drunkards / and whore mongers: seeing they both may / and ought either be brought to repentance / and so are none such as they were / or thrust out of the church / and so not hinder the election. This my meaning was clear / and the manner of speech if it had been simply considered / without circumstances restraining to this meaning / is such / as the scripture doth admit. As when Paul saith / that the churches of God have no custom ¹to contend: he setteth forth not that which always cometh to pas but what ought to be always. For it may be that contention may continue in a church many years: and yet it not cease to be the church of God. The prosperity of the Gospel / shielded by authority ⟨p. CCXLIII⟩of the Christian magistrate / draweth by no necessity with it / such abundance of wicked as you suppose. for although hypocrisy may be more then under persecution / yet known wickedness / of whoredom / drunkenness / &c. may be easilier purged out ²off the church / under a Christian magistrate. So that the swarm off such wickedness under the Christian magistrate / more then when there was none / is not the fault off the time / but off the governors off church / or common wealth / or both. As for hypocrites / I have showed that there is not so great danger in them: considering that their outward doings are the same with the children off God / and the difference is only in the heart. Which although you deny: yet my reason drawn of the nature off an hypocrite / you do quite pass by.

When I saie there be no knowen drunkardes / or vvhoremongers in the churche: I speake off that vvhich shoulde be / vnto vvhich meaning the tenure off my disputacion would haue led yow / if yow had bene willinge to follow. For yow opposinge that for a bar vnto the peoples election / theffecte off my answer was: that yt is not meete to take aduantage off this / that there be many suche dronkardes / and vvhore mongers: seinge they bothe maie / and owghte either be browght to repentance / and so are none suche as they were / or thruste owte of the churche / ād so not hinder the election. This my meaning was cleare / and the man̄er of speache if it had beene simply cōsidered / withowt circūstances restraining to this meaning / is such / as the scripture doth admit. As when Paul saithe / that the churchs of God haue no coustome