The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

His second question / whether the flock be not in like danger in the Pastors absence with leave, as without: is altogether from the purpose / when it is no lawful for him nether with leave / nor without leave / to be away with danger off his flock. His third / where I find in scripture that the Pastor ought to have leave off his parish: is answered in that I showed that the Pastors are belonging to their churches / and are their servants: which he altogether passeth by. His last asketh how he can in his absence have an able deputy, seeing he may ⟨p. CCCLVI⟩not be admitted to the ministry, which hath not a certain flock. As though in such necessity for so small a time / the supply may not be made by the Pastors hard by: which is also answer to that he objecteth pag. 249.

His second questiō / whether the flocke be not in like daunger in the Pastors absence with leaue, as withowt: is altogether from the pourpose / when it is no lawfull for him nether with leaue / nor without leaue / to be away with daunger off his flocke. His third / where I finde in scripture that the Pastor owght to haue leaue off his parish: is answered in that I shewed that the Pastors are belonging to their churches / and are their seruantes: which he altogether passeth by. His laste asketh how he cā in his absence haue an able deputy, seing he may ⟨p. CCCLVI⟩not be admitted to the ministery, which hath not a certeine flocke. As though in suche necessitie for so small a time / the supply may not be made by the Pastors hard by: which is also answer to that he obiecteth pag. 249.

Unto the next divis. I answer not. Upon that many parishes ¹may be joined in one, and fix towns in France (as he saith) are committed unto one Pastor, he concludeth that one Pastor may have divers flocks: which is unworthy any answer. As if a thousand sheep in one pasture / were not easelier / and with more commodity tended / then three in three sheepgates. For as touching the preaching off the word / and administering the Sacraments / unto divers towns assembled into one body of a church: the labour is almost all one in ten / and ten hundred. The residue off the charge being common with him unto the rest off the elders / may be (especially in such necessities) borne out by increasing their number / according to the compass off the churches territory. It is also untrue that he affirmeth I have said / that the number, or distance off place is all one. And it is inconvenient / that ether a greater number be assembled into the body off one particular church / then can be at once taught off one mouth / or that the number should be taken out off towns / farther removed from the places off the churches resort / then that they may have convenient access. Likewise it is untrue which he saith off six towns to one Pastor in France. For although one church be assembled out off divers towns: yet it falleth out that the least part off those towns pertaineth unto the church: and those few meet together in one place / to receive the nurture provided for them off the Lord / by the hand off their Pastor.