The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

Then his answer is a begging off that in question / when he saith / that subjection in lawful matters is no bondage: it being in question whether it be lawful for the magistrate / to take away the election from the church. To that also out of Musculus / that the minister chosen by the church may rule with a good con science / and the people obey unto him / easier / then when he cometh in against their will: and thereupon concluded / that forasmuch as that manner of election is to be followed / which maketh most to assure the ministers conscience of his calling / and that the people should be more obedient unto his doctrine / therefore that only was to be holden: his answer is / that he may be assured otherwise, and that the people otherwise will obey. which if it were true / as it is not / is not sufficient: for that he is not so easily assured / nor they so easily obey.

Then his answer is abegging off that in question / when he saith / that subiection in lawfull matters is no bondage: yt being in question vvhether yt be lawfull for the magistrate / to take awaie the election from the church. To that also owt of Musculus / that the minister chosen by the church maie rule vvith a good cō science / and the people obey vnto him / easelier / then vvhen he cometh in againste their will: and thervppon concluded / that forasmuche as that manner of election is to be followed / vvhich maketh moste to assure the mynisters cōscience of his calling / and that the people should be more obedient vnto his doctrine / therfore that onely vvas to be holden: his answer is / that he maie be assured otherwise, and that the people otherwise will obey. which if yt were true / as yt is not / is not sufficient: for that he is not so easelie assured / nor they so easely obey.

And where as he saith / that he which is assured off an inward calling, need not to doubt of his outward: you should understand that the assurance of the inward calling / dependeth a great part of the outward. for albeit the sprite of God worketh that assurance: yet he worketh by the outward means of the judgement of the elders / and off the church / touching his aptness for the ministry: whilst he considereth / that that calling is not the calling off men / but off God through the ministry of men. Nether is there any one (except those which are called extraordinarily) which can have assurance off any inward calling / but by the means off outward. For if he were assured that God had called him / without the calling off men; he ought to obey his voice / although men would