The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

I appeal not unto the Apostles times only / but unto the doctrine / ¹and order established: where we are sure there is light without darkness / truth without danger off errors. And if we leaving the apostles / should take a patron off government off men / which may be deceived: it ought rather to be drawn from the Apostles times / then from those 500. years after: those being so ⟨p. DVIII⟩much purer / as they were nearer the incomparable brightness of the gospel which shined then / and further from those misty times off Antichrist / wherewith after the whole earth was overcast. For if this man off sin being in the egg in thappostles time / received by little and little continual increase / until he came to his full growth: I see not why there was not as great odds / between the pureness off the church in thapostles time / and that 500. years after / as between this / and that 1000. year after the Apostles. And if there were no remedy against the corruptions off those purest times / but in taking heed to the light which the Lord had set up in the doctrine / and government off the apostles: how much more for remedy against such palpable darkness / as covered the face off the earth in our times / ought we to have resorted unto that perfect / and unmedled light? not unto them whose both heavens were darker / and sight dimmer: and which beside greater night within them selves / by reason off their infirmity / had less day without by reason of the gloomy times. To that alleged / and confirmed / that thes dignities off Metropolitans / archbishops / &c. were as the hands that pulled, the feet which brought, the shoulders that lifted up the Pope into his seat, which otherwise he could never have attained unto: the Ans. saith only / that sects, and heresies gave strength unto Antichrist: which is nothing to purpose / as though both thes could not stand well together.

I appele not vnto the Apostles times onely / but vnto the doctrine / ¹and order established: where we are sure there is light withowt darcknes / truth withowt daunger off errors. And if we leauing thapostles / should take a patron off gouernement off men / which may be deceiued: yt owght rather to be drawen from the Apostles times / then from those 500. yeares after: those being so ⟨p. DVIII⟩