The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

Secondly he saith / that the pastors had never better cause to obey their pastors, never less cause to complain off bondage, and constraint, then now when the pastors are chosen without the consent off the churches: which as it is barely said / hath no reason to lean upon / is confuted by common sense: so it is directly contrary to that Musculus his author / affirmeth in the words before alleged. Only for the matter off liberty / he allegeth that the true liberty of the church, consisteth in liberty of conscience, and freedom from false doctrine: whereunto I answer / that it consisteth in them / but not only. for to use assemblies for the ministering of the word / and Sacraments / &c. is a liberty of the church: And they are not mine / but Musc. words: which calleth the election by the church / a liberty, and the other a bondage of the church. I imagine not the corrupt estate to be in the laws, and government off the Christian magistrate: but contrariwise give that virtue to his godly government / that the estate off religion may be easily pure with him: which can be hardly / or not without great danger / pure without him. You if not in words ⟨p. CCLXII⟩/ yet in deed / make the government off the christian magistrate, always fraught with drunkards, Idolaters, whoremongers / Atheists / &c. ¹which was not so before he entered: which is nothing else / then to make him Lord of misrule / and in steed of a nursing father / a fosterer of sin: which is the injury I complain off.

Secondly he saith / that the pastors had neuer better cause to obey their pastors, neuer les cause to complaine off bondage, and cōstraint, then nowe when the pastors are chosen without the consente off the churches: which as it is barely saied / hath no reason to leane vppon / is confuted by common sense: so it is directly contrarie to that Musculus his author / affirmeth in the wordes before alledged. Onely for the matter off libertie / he alledgeth that the true libertie of the church, consisteth in libertie of cōscience, and freedome from false doctrine: wherunto I answer / that it consisteth in them / but not onely. for to vse assemblies for the ministring of the worde / and Sacramētes / &c. is a libertie of the church: And they are not myne / but Musc. wordes: which calleth the election by the church / a libertie, and the other a bondage of the church. I imagine not the corrupt estate to be in the lawes, and goūernment off the Christian magistrate: but contrariwise giue that vertue to his godly gouernment / that the estate off religion maie be easelie pure with him: vvhich can be hardly / or not without great daunger / pure without him. Yow if not in wordes