The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

Thirdly the examples off the contentions which the D. hath heaped up together / beside that they are in part not off the church with it self / but off the church with heretics / which is her commendation / as in the election off Ambrose: beside that also it is noted specially / that the people off Alexandria was off a Mutinous / and stirring nature / and therefore unjustly objected against the whole estate of the church: beside this I say / thes examples alleged by the Answ. are so far from weakening the churches election / that they make it stronger. For notwithstanding those contentions had / under both Christian magistrates / and Bishops: there was not only no counsel taken / to bar the churches off their election: but were (as hath been showed) ⟨p. CCXC⟩councils from time to time / to ratify it. And if the Emperors / and Bishops had not thought it necessary / that the churches should have interest in their elections / or had thought (as the D.) that both the churches were put in hazard of false teachers / and the commonwealth off uproars / by reason off popular elections: it had been great folly / or madness rather / to have suffered that which they might have so easily remedied. Which opinion off the necessity off the churches interest / as it hath appeared by divers examples before alleged: so may it clearly be seen / in the letters off the good Emperor Constantine / to the Citizens off Nicomedia. which although they had chosen to his great grief / ¹one Eusebius Bishop: doth not therefore take away the election from them / but moveth to a new. And albeit they had abused their right / in choosing such a one as was an Arian / a runagate from his former bishopric / a railer of the Emperor: yet he confesseth still / that it belonged unto them / to make a hewe election.

Thirdly the examples off the contentions which the D. hath heaped vpp to gether / beside that they are in parte not off the churche with yt selfe / but off the church with hererickes / which is her commendation / as in the election off Ambrose: beside that also it is noted specially / that the people off Alexandria was off a Mutinous / and stirring nature / and therfore vniustly obiected againste the whole estate of the church: beside this I saie / thes examples alledged by the Answ. are so farre from weakeninge the churches election / that they make yt stronger. For notwithstandinge those contentions had / vnder bothe Christian magistrates / and Bishops: there was not onely no counseill taken / to barre the churches off their election: but were (as hath bene shewed)