The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

And as it hath certain ground in the scripture / that this title of head of the church / is to high to be given unto any man: so hath it been confirmed from time to time / by writers both old / and new / which have had the honour off Christ in any convenient estimation. Let us therefore see whether this jalousie over the title of head of the church / not only in respect off the whole / but in respect also off a particular congregation / have ¹their approbation. Cyprian saith / there is but one head off the church. The bishop off Salisbury affirmeth the same. Augustine proveth that the minister which baptiseth / can not be the head off him which is baptized / because Christ is the head off the whole church. And in another place / that Paul could not be head of the churches which he planted / because Christ is head off the whole body. which reason should be nothing worth / if ether Saint Paul / or any other minister might be a ministry all head off the church under Christ. And if the name of ministerial head off the churches which Paul planted / can not be given unto him which was a governor next / and immediately under Christ in that same kind off government in the which our Saviour Christ is head / that is to say spiritual / no not then when there was no Christian magistrate to make challenge unto that title / and to bring it into doubt / whether it belonged unto S. ⟨p. CCCCXIIII⟩Paul / or to him: it can not be that the magistrate may take unto him that title / whose government doth not approach so near unto our Saviour Christs / as he is head off the church.

And as yt hath certaine grounde in the scripture / that this tytle of head of the church / is to highe to be gyuen vnto any man: so hath yt bene confirmed from time to tyme / by writers both olde / and newe / which haue had the honor off Christe in any conuenient estimation. Let vs therfore see vvhether this ialousie ouer the title of head of the church / not onely in respecte off the whole / but in respecte also off a particular congregation / haue ¹their approbation. Cyprian saith / there is but one head off the church. The bishop off Salsburie affirmeth the same. Augustine proueth that the minister which baptiseth / can not be the head off him which is baptized / because Christe is the head off the vvhole church. And in another place / that Paule coulde not be head of the churches which he planted / becawse Christe is head off the vvhole body. which reason should be nothing worthe / if ether Saint Paule / or any other minister mighte be a ministery all head off the church vnder Christe. And if the name of ministeriall head off the churches which Paule planted / can not be gyuen vnto him which was a gouernour nexte / and immediatly vnder Christe in that same kinde off gouernment in the which our Sauiour Christe is head / that is to say spirituall / no not then when there was no Christian magistrate to make chalenge vnto that title / and to bring yt into dowbte / whether yt belonged vnto S.