The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

And it can be no strange kind off speech for the ministers being assembled together / to speak off a matter continued a score off provincial Synods / and holden in the space off 10. years / after this sort: In such and such things, we vvill keep our old custom. And that it could not be long before the council off Nice beside no testimony to the contrary ▪ Aeneas Sy•uius giveth this for us: before the Nicene council every bishop lived ¹unto him self, and small regard was had to the bishops of home. But admit it had been so before the council off Nice / 20. yea 30. years yet by your own count / there is no mention off him all that time which I have affirmed / which is 300. years after our Saviour Christs ascension. Now therefore that the auncientie off the Metropolitan / appeareth not by this council to be other / then I alleged: Let us see what credit it ought to have to prove that this decree off theirs was good. For thereunto the D. regardeth when he saith / the notable, and famous council off Nice, must be off all wise, and learned men next unto the scriptures reverenced, &c. It is sure that having regard to the decision off the different / touching the perfect unity off substance / of our Saviour Christ with God the Father / it giving sentence upon the unfallible word off God / is worthy to be reverenced. But if the D. will have their soundness in that point / authorise the rest / and that our reverence to it should close up our mouths / from demanding from whence the other canons come / what ground they have: it is that which we can by no means consent unto.

And yt can be no straunge kinde off speach for the ministers being assembled together / to speake off a matter continued a score off prouinciall Synodes / and houlden in the space off 10. yeares / after this sorte: In suche and such thinges, vvee vvill kepe our old coustome. And that yt could not be long before the councell off Nice beside no testimony to the contrary ▪ Aeneas Sy•uius gyueth this for vs: before the Nicene councell euery bishop lyued ¹vnto him self, and smale regard vvas had to the bishops of home. But admit yt had bene so before the councell off Nice / 20. yea 30. yeares yet by yowr owne counte / there is no mention off him all that time which I haue affirmed / which is 300. yeares after our Sauiour Christes ascension. Now therfore that the auncientie off the Metrapolitane / appeareth not by this councell to be other / then I alledged: Let vs see what credite yt owghte to haue to proue that this decree off theirs was good. For therunto the D. regardeth when he saith / the notable, and famous councell off Nice, muste be off all wise, and learned men nexte vnto the scriptures reuerenced, &c. It is sure that hauing regard to the decision off the different / touching the perfect vnitie off substance / of our Sauiour Christ with God the Father / it giuing sentence vppon the vnfallible word off God / is worthy to be reuerenced. But if the D. will haue their soundnes in that poincte / autorise the rest / and that our reuerence to yt should close vp our mouthes / from demaunding from whence the other canons come / what ground they haue: yt is that which we can by no meanes consent vnto.