The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

When the Nicene Council alloweth not off the election off the clergy / unless the person chosen be both worthy / and likewise chosen by the people: can there be any plainer words invented / to confirm that I have set down? And where he would darken so clear a light / by words which say that those things belonged peculiarly to Egypt, and to the church of Alexandria, as if this order ⟨p. CCLVIII⟩off election by the church / were not holden good in other places: he doth but as a man which hath made shipwreck / snatcheth at every thing he can lay hold off / at all adventure. For Ariu• heresy bearing sway in those parts / drave the council to enter into certain peculiar considerations off them: but that the election off the church / was a peculiar thing unto those provinces / it is too absurd. For what wisdom off the council should it be / to permit that unto the people in those places / which were most corrupt with Arianism: if other places of the world / which were sounder then they / had not that privilege? And if the foresaid words / cause this condition so that the people choose, to be a peculiar thing unto those places: then it followeth / that the other condition which is joined with it / was likewise / that he which was chosen should be meet to be chosen: which no man that hath not lost his senses / vvill ever say. So that we still have the council off Nice / confirming absolutely the election off the church. As for Grineus he maketh nothing to this matter. for the right off the clergy, shutteth not out the churches.¹

When the Nicene Councell alloweth not off the election off the clergie / vnles the person chosen be both worthy / and likewise chosen by the people: can there be any plainer wordes inuented / to confirme that I haue set downe? And vvhere he vvould darken so cleare a light / by wordes vvhich saie that those thinges belonged peculiarly to Aegypte, and to the church of Alexandria, as if this order ⟨p. CCLVIII⟩off election by the church / vvere not holden good in other places: he dooth but as a man which hath made shipwracke / snatcheth at euery thing he can laye holde off / at all aduenture. For Ariu• heresie bearing sway in those partes / draue the councell to enter into certaine peculiar considerations off them: but that the election off the church / was a peculiar thinge vnto those prouinces / yt is too absurde. For what wisdome off the councell shoulde yt be / to permitte that vnto the people in those places / which were moste corrupte with Arianisme: yf other places of the worlde / vvhich vvere sounder then they / had not that priuiledge? And if the foresaied wordes / cause this condition so that the people chuse, to be a peculiar thing vnto those places: then yt followeth / that thother condition vvhich is ioined vvith yt / was likewise / that he vvhich vvas chosen should be meet to be chosen: vvhich no man that hath not loste his senses / vvill euer saie. So that wee still haue the councell off Nice / confirming absolutly the election off the church. As for Grineus he maketh nothing to this matter. for the right off the clergie, shutteth not owt the churches.