The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

Where he saith / no man of modesty, and learning, will condemn orders of that time without manifest proof, especially in government: I would gladly know of him why he should add / especially in government. what reason can he show / why we should not call their government to as narrow a search / and as straight a trial / as their doctrine? When as it can not be but where the Doctrine is attainted / the infection thereof must needs come unto the discipline: especially when the Ministers / which sit at the stern off government / be seized with that evil. And the discipline of the church being the wall / wherewith the doctrine is kept safe: as in a city the wall is that which feeleth the first assault / and is battered before the city can lie open to the violence off the artillery: so in the siege off the church by spiritual enemies / the discipline / and government is that / whereinto the first breach is made. So that having good cause to hold for suspect / whatsoever either in doctrine / or in government those times left unto us / not confirmed by substantial proofs out of the word: we have yet better cause to mistrust their government / as that which having abidden the greatest brunt / hath more need off reparations. This appeareth in the first Council of Nice / ¹where the most off errors decreed upon / were in the discipline / and not so much in the doctrine: beside the ungodly custom / which may appear to have occupied almost all the churches / touching the forbidding of the second marriage off ministers / before that council.

Where he saith / no man of modesty, and learning, will condemne orders of that time withowte manifeste proofe, especially in gouernement: I would gladly knowe of him why he should add / especially in gouernement. what reason can he shewe / why we shoulde not call their gouernement to as narrow a searche / and as streight a trial / as their doctrine? When as yt can not be but where the Doctrine is attainted / the infection theroff muste nedes come vnto the discipline: especially when the Mynisters / which sitte at the sierne off gouernement / be seased with that euill. And the discipline of the churche being the wall / wherwith the doctrine ys kept safe: as in a citie the wall is that which feeleth the firste assaulte / and is battered before the citie can lie open to the violence off the artillery: so in the siege off the churche by spirituall ennemies / the discipline / and gouernement is that / wherinto the firste breache is made. So that hauinge good cawse to holde for suspecte / whatsoeuer either in doctrine / or in gouernement those times lefte vnto vs / not confirmed by substanciall proofes owte of the worde: we haue yet better cawse to mistruste their gouernement / as that which hauing abidden the greatest brunte / hathe more neede off reparacions. This appeareth in the firste Councell of Nice /