The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

Off that which remaineth in this division / the canons called ¹the Apostles / that off Antioch / Eusebius / and others which speak off ordaining / make nothing to this question which is off election: considering that it hath been showed / not only that ordination differeth from election: but also that the councils from time to time / have confirmed the election by the churches. So that if there have been any elections made by the Bishops alone: they have been directly contrary to the tenure of the councils. In the council off Nice (although his boldness be greater / then in the other canons) having changed the words off the council / and in stead off ordination / put election: yet hath he no more warrant off the words off that canon / then off the others. And albeit the general answer is more then sufficient / to resist such naked assertions: yet even in this council / it ⟨p. CCLXXXV⟩is manifestly to be showed / that that canon is to be understanded of ordination / as it is distinguished from election. For in the letters which the Synod off Constantinople / wrote unto the council holden at Rome / it is thus written. Touching the care off the ²government off every church, you know that the old decree, and appointment of the fathers off the Nicene council, hath prevailed from time to time: that the inhabitants in every province, taking to them if they vvill, and if it be profitable, those which are next adjoining, should make the elections. According to the tenure whereof understand you, that the residue of the churches with us, are governed. Whereupon we have in our general council, set our bishop off Constantinople Nectarius, in the sight off the Emperor Theodosius, and clergy off that city, the whole city giving their voices thereunto. And so goeth forward with the election off the bishop off Antioch / and confirmation off the bishop off Jerusalem. Where it appeareth manifestly / not only that the ordination given by that canon to the bishop / did not shut out the election off the people: but that it implied necessarily / an election by the people / and clergy joined with it. For the Synod saith / that those elections which were made by consent of the church / were made according to the decree off the Nicene council. And if it should be as the D.