The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

I am well content you expound the place unto Timothy, off putting on of hands / by that unto Titus, of appointing town by town. For I doubt not but that which the eldership doth / or one in the name off the eldership after the election / is therefore called appointing / or ordaining to the ministry / because it is a solemn investing / and putting him in possession off that / whereunto he was before chosen. Although Call. be directly against him in this question / whose judgement is / that it doth nether belong unto the bishop to choose him self alone / nor yet ¹to ordain by him self alone: yet to help to overthrow the right signification of Presbytery / he is content to follow him / at the lest doubting: leaving so many both old / and new / which all take that word for a company off those which govern the church. And it is certain that those forms off nouns / are used to signify ether a society: or else the place where a society meeteth. And Calvin him self interpreting that place / where he had better occasion to consider of it / seemeth to have retracted his judgement: for thus he writeth. They which do here take this word (presbytery) for a noun collective, and for the college of elders, in my judgement think well. Although all things considered, I grant an other sense vvill not evil agree: that is, that it be the name off the office.

I am well contente yow expounde the place vnto Timothe, off puttinge on of handes / by that vnto Titus, of appoincting towne by towne. For I dowbte not but that which the eldershippe doth / or one in the name off the eldershippe after the electiō / is therfore called appointinge / or ordeininge to the ministerie / because yt is a solemne inuestinge / and puttinge him in possession off that / wherunto he was before chosen. Althowghe Cal. be directly against him in this question / whose iudgement is / that yt doth nether belonge vnto the bishoppe to choose him selfe alone / nor yet ¹to ordeine by him selfe alone: yet to helpe to ouerthrowe the right signification of Presbytery / he is contente to folowe him / at the leste dowting: leauinge so many bothe olde / and newe / which all take that worde for a companie off those which gouerne the churche. And it is certeine that those formes off nownes / are vsed to signifie ether a societie: or els the place where a societie meeteth. And Caluine him selffe interpretinge that place / where he had better occasion to cōsider of it / semeth to haue retracted his iudgement: for thus he writeth. They vvhich doo here take this vvord (presbytery) for a novvne collectiue, and for the colledge of elders, in my iudgement thincke vvell. Althovvghe all thinges consydered, I graunte an other sense vvill not euill agree: that is, that yt be the name off the offyce.