The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

That which you call the prosperity, might well be called ¹the cross / and whip of the gospel: if it drew such a tail off sin / as you suppose. For if under a Christian Magistrate / either always / or for the most part / not only the number off hypocrites / but of barefaced / and known wicked / should be multiplied: and not that only / but the good them selves should wax worse: that time might peradventure after a sort / be called the prosperity of those which profess the gospel: but how the gospel may be said then to prosper / which is so many ways plucked down / I can not understand. And this is clean contrary to the fruits of peace / which the scripture declareth. The Prophet as soon as he ²had spoken of peace / which should be published amongest the Jews: addeth that Judah should then keep her solemn feasts, perform her vows, because the wicked enemy off the church, was cut off. Whereby he doth not only show / that the end off the peace of the church / is to serve god more wholly then before: but also that the peace gave them more commodity off serving off God / then they could have in time of persecution. And if you reply that so it should be / but it is not: the answer is / if it be not so / it is through the great / and unexcusable fault off all / and governors especially: which having moe means to entertain all godliness / suffer it to go to wrack.

That vvhich yow call the prosperitie, mighte vvell be called ¹the crosse / and vvhip of the gospell: yf it drewe suche a taile off synne / as yow suppose. For if vnder a Christian Magistrate / either alwaies / or for the moste parte / not onely the nomber off hypocrites / but of barefaced / ād knowē wicked / shoulde be multiplied: and not that onely / but the good them selues shoulde wax worse: that time mighte peraduenture after a sorte / be called the prosperitie of those which professe the gospel: but how the gospell maie be saide thē to prosper / which is so manie waies plucked downe / I can not vnderstād. And this is cleane cōtrarie to the fruictes of peace / which the scripture declareth. The Prophet as soone as he ²had spokē of peace / vvhich shoulde be published amōgest the Iewes: addeth that Iuda shoulde then kepe her solemne feastes, performe her vovves, because the vvicked enemie off the churche, vvas cut off. Wherby he doothe not onely shewe / that the ende off the peace of the church / is to serue god more wholy then before: but also that the peace gaue them more commoditie off seruinge off God / then they coulde haue in time of persequution. And if yow replie that so it shoulde be / but it is not: the answer is / if it be not so / yt is throwghe the greate / and vnexcusable faulte off all / and gouernoures especiallie: vvhich hauinge moe meanes to intertaine all godlines / suffer it to goe to vvracke.