The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

The Church off God so oft us scripture not compared only / but figured in the City Jerusalem: serveth for instruction / in this cause. For as in it / the wall first broken down / was last made up again / and that more then 14. years after the temple builded ¹so is it commonly in the spiritual wall off the church / which is the discipline the lord appointed / aswell for strength of it / as for holding out of all adversary power / whether it be corruption off doctrine or manners. The first is to be seen / in the Act. of the apostles: where (after the churches gathered by preaching) there was an eldership severally placed in them) to whom the execution of the church discipline doth especially appertain. The other may as easily appear / to him that considereth the estate off the church after the Apostles / by monuments off those times: in which always as this fort off government left by them was first suffered to decay / so the pureness of doctrine decreased: until the church it self (except a few stones here and there scattered) was brought to heaps off dust. If y• be asked / why the discipline having right to enter with the doctrine: findeth not always / that favour amongest men. The cause •s apparent / that when Satan can not gain this first point to hold the doctrine out off a city or Kingdom: he sweareth after the second / that it may be there with smallest fruit / and shortest continuance. Wherein let (I beseech you) be considered: his doings / against the building off the wall off Jerusalem. For if he bestirred himself so / in hindering that material wall: it will be less marvel / if for hinderance off this spiritual he trudge to and fro / open his whole pack off subtleties / and as it is in proverb bestow both •vet and dry.

THe Church off God so ofte vs scripture not compared onely / but figured in the Citie Ierusalem: serueth for instruction / in this cause. For as in yt / the wal first broken downe / was last made vp againe / and that more then 14. yeares after the temple builded ¹so is yt commenly in the spirituall wal off the churche / whiche is the discipline the lorde appointed / aswel for strenght of yt / as for houlding out of all aduersarie power / whether yt be corruption off doctrine or manners. The first is to be seen / in the Act. of thapostles: where (after the churches gathered by preaching) there was an eldership seuerally placed in them) to whom the execution of the church discipline doth especially appertain. The other may as easily appear / to him that considereth the estate off the churche after the Apostles / by monuments off those times: in which allwaies as this fort off gouernement left by them was first suffred to decaie / so the purenes of doctrine decreased: vntill the churche yt selfe (except a few stones here and there scattered) was browght to heapes off dust. Yf y be asked / why the discipline hauing right to entre with the doctrine: findeth not alwaies / that fauour amongest men. The cause s apparant / that when Satan can not gain this first point to houlde the doctrine owt off a city or Kingdome: he sweareth after the second / that yt may be there with smallest fruict / and shortest continuance. Wherin let (I beseche yow) be considered: his doings / against the building off the wal off Ierusalem. For if he bestirred himself so / in hindering that materiall wal: it wil be les meruaile / yf for hinderance off this spirituall he trudge to and fro / open his whole pack off subtilties / and as yt is in prouerb bestovv both vet and dry.