The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

Caput 3, Divis. 1.

Caput 3, Diuis. 1.

That the reader may have clearer light / to judge of our writings on both sides in the rest off this controversy / and that we may be better furnished of weapons / against this great levy off pretended authorities; two questions seem necessary to be decided / before we come unto them. The one / whether the word off God hath ordained that in every several congregation there should be a bishop: which the Answ. doth flatly deny / and ¹further saith / it appeareth out off certain ecclesiastical writers, and the examples off Timothy, and Titus, that the Apostles appointed bishops, only in principal towns and cities. The other is / whether there were allowed in one city / 2. or moe bishops: which likewise he flatly denieth can be showed to have been from Christ•• time, and that the whole practise ²off the primitive church is against it. If thes things be showed to have been ordained off the Apostles: it must follow that this institution off God / banished by Satan / ought to be called home / an that all authority off men / and custom exalted against this / must yield them selves prisoners. Likewise if these be showed / the truth of exposition of the testimonies of the most ancient writers / shall better appear: whereby we have shut the bishoplike authority in the circuit / and roundel of one church: which the Ans. would have extended unto a realm / or diocese. And so shall come to pas / that they which having all their senses possessed of the custom of thes later / and corrupter times / when they read or hear off a bishop in the scripture / or in the most ancient writers / conceive forthwith a bishop of the same mould that ours be / shall a great deal easelier correct their error. For if a bishop in the Apostles time / and off their institution / was the bishop off one church only: by all likelihood those times which followed next after them / kept them nearest unto that image: