The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

And if it be further said / that albeit those martyrs did err in such weighty matters: yet it is to be supposed that before their deaths / they changed opinion: I say that that can be by no likelihood supposed. For then undoubtedly they would have called back their former opinions / and not have suffered them to the hurt off the church / to have lived after their death. ⟨p. VII⟩If this be not sufficient / to show that godly Martyrs may remain in the ignorance of some necessary point of Religion: our own Ecclesiastical stories / do furnish us with diverse examples off godly Martyrs / off all sorts / and all times / but especially in the beginning (when the day off the light off the Gospel / began to peep out off that night off popish darkness wherein we were) who even in there examinations before their martyrdom / affirm the contrary off that whereof we are clearly taught in the word of God. I have not the book by me / but I well remember there mentioned of a notable man / and off the later Martyrs / which affirmeth a very gross descent off our saviour Christ into hell: which is an error in one off the articles off our faith. Another granting such a Purgatory after this life as the papists do imagine / and others also diverse failing in substantial points of doctrine: whereby whatsoever becometh off this place off Nehemiah / yet that is true which I set down: that both good men / and learned / and martyrs / may not only be ignorant / but also hold / the contrary off some substantial points off Religion. So that if the example which I used / should not serve: yet the doctrine which I set down is true and unshaken / yea (saving only a bare denial) untouched.

And if it be further said / that albeit those martyrs did erre in suche weightie matters: yet it is to be supposed that before their deathes / they chaunged opinion: I saye that that can be by no likelihoode supposed. For then vndowtedlie they would haue called backe their former opinions / and not haue suffred them to the hurt off the church / to haue liued after theredeathe. ⟨p. VII⟩If this be not sufficient / to shew that godlie Maxtyrs maye remaine in the ignorāce of some necessarie point of Religion: our owne Ecclesiasticall stories / do furnishe vs with diuerse examples off godlie Martyrs / off all sortes / and all times / but especially in the beginning (when the daie off the light off the Gospell / beganne to peepe owt off that night off popishe darknes wherin we were) who euen in there examinations before theire martirdome / affirme the contrary off that wheroff we are clerely taught in the word of God. I haue not the booke by me / but I well remembre there mentioned of a notable man / and off the later Martyrs / which affirmeth a verie grosse descent off our sauior Christ into hell: which is an error in one off the articles off our faithe. Another graunting such a Purgatorie after this life as the papistes do imagine / and others also diuerse failing in substantiall pointes of doctrine: wherby whatsoeuer becommeth off this place off Nehemias / yet that is trew which I set downe: that both good men / and learned / and martyrs / may not onely be ignorant / but also holde / the contrarie off some substantiall pointes off Religion. So that iff the example which I vsed / should not serue: yet the doctrine which I set downe is trew and vnshaken / yea (sauing onelye a bare deniall) vntouched.