The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

Again whereas he granteth that our Saviour Christ hath gone through with the doctrine: I would ask off him why in that point he hath made so clean work? Whatsoever he answer here / and what causes soever he assign: he can not deny but one cause is / the blindness of men to see / and their perverseness of judgement in things pertaining to the kingdom off heaven. Which if it be true: then I would gladly know off him / how they come to be so eagle-eyed / in the matter off discipline / and government / which are such buzzards in the sight off the doctrine? and how their eyes be opened here / which were shut there? As if we were in less peril off error / in inventing the Discipline off the church: then we should have been in devising the doctrine. or as though it were an easier matter / to find a rule whereby the whole church jointly, then whereby every one in his several / might be directed.

Againe wheras he graunteth that our Sauiour Christ hath gone throwgh with the doctrine: I would ask off him why in that point he hath made so cleane worck? Whatsoeuer he answer here / and what cawses soeuer he assigne: he can not deny but one cawse is / the blindnes of men to see / and their peruersnes of iudgement in thinges perteining to the kingdom off heauen. Which if it be true: then I would gladly know off him / how they come to be so egleeyed / in the matter off discipline / and gouernemēt / which are such bussardes in the sight off the doctrine? and how their eyes be opened here / which were shut there? As if we were in lesse perill off error / in inuenting the Discipline off the church: then we should haue bene in deuising the doctrine. or as thowgh it were an easier matter / to finde a rule wherby the whole church ioyntly, then wherby euery one in his seuerall / might be directed.

And if part of this government / and order being propounded ⟨p. CCCCXLII⟩/ part also is left out: why rather were not the greater offices / and off more weight expressed / leaving the smaller to the stamp off mans head? for who knoweth not but it is harder / to institute a ministry for the government off a whole province / then for a company comprised within the territory of a furlong? to institute a ministry for government / and commandment of both people / and Bishops too / then for the people only? So that off the two virtues required in all sufficient dispensation / faithfulness / and wisdom / and which were both most fully in our S. Christ: by the Ans. account / there was nether. For in that he is made to have described some part off the government / and not all: he is argued of unfaithfulness. in that he is made to have propounded the less / and easier / leaving out greater / and more difficult: his wisdom is reproached.