The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

And if the church be planted in a popular estate: then forsomuch as all govern in common / and all have authority / all shall be head there / and no body at all: which is another monster.

And if the churche be planted in a popular estate: then forsomuch as all gouerne in commen / and all haue autoritie / all shall be head there / and no body at all: vvhich is another monster.

Now if we consider the causes / why our Saviour Christ is called the head of his church (which are that as the head is the highest part in a man / above which there is none always joined with the body: so he is the chiefest / and highest in his church / inseparably knit with it / and that as the head giveth sense / and moving unto all the body: so he quickeneth / and together with understanding of heavenly things / giveth strength to walk therein) I say when thes be the causes: it is manifest / thes things nor no one off them / ether agreeing / or having any possibility to agree with any creature in heaven / or earth / ether towards the whole church / or towards any particular assembly: ⟨p. CCCCXIII⟩that the name off the Head of the church / can not be without great violence / given unto any simple creature. And if it be said that the civil magistrate is a subordinate / and ministerial head off the church / as the magistrate being head off the common wealth / hath other which may be called under heads beneath him: he must understand that those heads are appointed / because the chief magistrate can not be present with the whole body off his people / nor in his own person perform the office of a head unto them all. But forasmuch as Christ is never severed from his body / nor from any part off it / and is able / and doth perform that wherefore he is called head / unto all his church: it ought not to seem strange that there may be a subordinate head in the common wealth / where there can be none in the church.

Now yf vve consider the cawses / why our Sauiour Christe ys called the head of his church (which are that as the head is the higheste parte in a man / aboue which ther is none allwaies ioyned with the body: so he ys the cheifest / and highest in his churche / inseperably knitte with yt / and that as the head gyueth sense / and mouing vnto all the bodye: so he quickneth / and to gether with vnderstanding of heauenly thinges / gyueth strenght to walke therin) I say when thes be the causes: yt ys manifeste / thes thinges nor no one off them / ether agreing / or hauing any possibilitie to agree with any creature in heauen / or earth / ether towards the whole church / or towardes any partycular assembly: