The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

The third difference is / that where sermons are applied to the present circumstance / which by change off times / budding off new vices / rising of errors / &c. vary almost every day this kind off interpretation (as that which is stark / and annummed) can not pursue them. for where the preacher with his sermon / is able according to the manifold windings / and turnings of sin / to wind / and turn in with it / to the end he may strike it: the homilies are not able to turn / nether off the right hand / nor off the left / but to what quarter soever the enemies are retired / it must keep the train wherein it was set off the maker. And if it were possible (which is not) to make homilies against all diseases off vices / and errors: and that were also granted / that the reading ministers could both discern the sickness / and apply the medicine laid up in the homily / which requireth the skill off a learned man: yet as no physician (how cunning soever) can so well prescribe at ones / and in gross against a disease / as he that upon every step it maketh giveth counsel / and applieth his medicine: so no homily maker / be he never so great a divine / can at ones / and before hand prescribe so apt / and strong remedies against sin / as he that doth it upon the present occasion. Homilies then not able to come to the vices / further then vices come to them: their use for this / and other causes aforesaid / is private. For a man feeling him self assaulted in any wise / and knowing a treatise arming him against that assault / may for his use be profitably occupied in it. I leave the difference in gifts / instrumental causes off sermons / and homilies: when as beside the gifts required in homilies ether reading / or making / there are in sermons required the gift off utterance / and memory. I pass also that the D. in saying there is no difference between an homily red, and a sermon preached, but that the one is pronounced within book, the other not so: maketh no difference between him that writeth his sermon / and readeth it / and him that readeth an other man's / not able to make one him self. ⟨p. CCCXCVI⟩this shall be sufficient to have showed that absurdity.

The third difference is / that where sermons are applied to the present circumstance / which by chaunge off times / budding off new vices / rising of errors / &c. vary almost euery day this kinde off interpretation (as that which is starcke / and annūmed) can not poursue them. for where the preacher with his sermon / is able according to the manifold windinges / and turninges of sinne / to winde / and turne in with yt / to thend he may stricke it: the homilies are not able to turne / nether off the right hand / nor off the left / but to what quarter soeuer the enemies are retyred / yt must keepe the traine wherin it was set off the maker. And if it were possible (which is not) to make homilies against all diseases off vices / and errors: and that were also graunted / that the reading ministers could both discerne the sickenes / and apply the medicine laied vp in the homily / which requireth the skill off a learned man: yet as no physicion (how cunning soeuer) can so well prescribe at ones / and in grosse against a disease / as he that vpon euery step yt maketh giueth counseill / and applieth his medicine: so no homily maker / be he neuer so great a diuine / can at ones / and before hand prescribe so apt / and strōg remedies against sinne / as he that doth yt vpon the present occasion. Homilies then not able to comme to the vices / further then vices cōme to them: their vse for this / and other cawses aforesaied / is priuate. For a mā feeling him self assaulted in any wise / and knowing a treatise arming him against that assault / may for his vse be profitably occupied in it. I leaue the difference in giftes / instrumentall causes off sermons / and homilies: when as beside the giftes required in homilies ether reading / or making / there are in sermons required the gift off vtterance / and memory. I passe also that the D. in saying there is no difference between an homily red, and a sermon preached, but that the one is pronounced within booke, the other not so: maketh no differēce between hym that writeth his sermon / and readeth it / and him that readeth an other man̄es / not able to make one him self.