The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

To the D. first reason against the churches election / which standeth in that there have been great contentions, and diversity off ¹minds amongest the churches: I answer / that the Apostles when there fell a contention / and a jar amongest those off the church / never entered into any such deliberation / off cutting away ²the churches liberty: contrariwise they esteemed the nearest way to heal up the breach / to give them some thing more in that election off Deacons / then was ordinary. For where they were accustomed to show the way in other elections / and by ripeness off their judgement help the weakness off the People / there they suffering the church to go before / followed with their approbation. And not only in respect off that election / but if a man will consider the whole estate off the primitive church in the Apostles time: it shall appear plainly / that if there were ever good cause / to take away the churches election through contentions / and diversities off minds / that was in the Apostles times. For the churches off God then / almost throughout the world standing of Jews / and gentiles / and there being such a natural hate between those two peoples / as whatsoever the one would / the other commonly would not / and contrariwise: if the Apostles had judged that for reason / which the D. esteemeth high wisdom: they should never have permitted any election unto the churches. For albeit the knitting off both those peoples into one profession off the gospel / did mortify that deadly hatred / which was naturally in them: yet notwithstanding it appeareth by divers places off the scripture / that there were such remnants ³off that hatred left / that nether the Apostles them selves which were so wise peace makers / and so cunning tiers off love knots / nor yet the ministers / and elders which had received the first fruits off the spirit off God / could keep them from most dangerous contentions. And Master Zuinglius off whom ⟨p. CCLXXXIX⟩the D. would seem to receive some succour in this cause / even when their churches were most dangerously infected with Anabaptistry / ⁴