The second reply of Thomas CartwrightThe second replie of Thomas Cartwright

Last off all unless it be the institution off God / that every particular congregation should have her bishop: in that largess ⟨p. DXVII⟩/ and bountiful liberality of ecclesiastical ministers / which S. Paul showeth our Saviour Christ bestowed upon his church ¹after he was ascended / nothing falleth to the lot of the particular churches. But it is horrible injury unto the liberality off Christ / so to shut his hand which he opened so wide: therefore it must needs be / that our Saviour Christ gave every church her Bishop as for the apostles / Evangelists / and Prophets / beside that their ministry was not straitened unto particular churches: they are (as before hath been showed) ceased. There remain therefore of the ministries there reckoned / the Pastor / and Doctor: whereof whether the bishop be the same with the Pastor / as some think / or whether he contain both Pastor / and Doctor / as other some esteem: it is manifest that ether every particular church must have a bishop ▪ or else none of those ministries there recited. For if it be said that taking a bishop for the same with a Pastor / the particular congregations having the Doctor / may have one off them / although they have no bishop: it is easy to answer / that if the Pastor most necessary / and whom the church can worst spare / do not belong: the Doctor can less be thought to appertain to a particular church. And thus far out of the scriptures / for proof of a bishop in every particular church: it followeth to show the traces of this institution in the primitive church / which succeeded next unto the Apostles.

Laste off all vnles yt be the institution off God / that euery particular congregacion shoulde haue her bishop: in that largies ⟨p. DXVII⟩/ and bountifull liberalitie of ecclesiasticall ministers / which S. Paule shewethe our Sauiour Christe bestowed vppon his churche ¹after he was ascended / nothing falleth to the lot of the partilar churches. But yt ys horrible iniurie vnto the liberalitie off Christe / so to shutte his hande which he opened so wide: therfore it muste needes be / that our Sauiour Christe gaue euerie churche her Bishop as for the apostles / Euāgelistes / and Prophetes / beside that their ministerie was not streightned vnto particuler churchs: they are (as before hathe bene shewed) ceassed. There remaine therfore of the ministeries there reckened / the Pastor / and Doctor: wherof whether the bishop be the same with the Pastor / as some thinck / or whether he conteine both Pastor / and Doctor / as other some esteme: it ys manifest that ether euery particular churche must haue a bishop or els none of those ministeries there recited. For if it be saied that taking a bishop for the same vvith a Pastor / the particular congregations hauing the Doctor / may haue one off them / althowgh they haue no bishop: it is easy to answere / that if the Pastor most necessarie / and vvhom the churche can worst spare / doo not belong: the Doctor can les be thowght to apperteine to a particular church. And thus far owt of the scripturs / for proofe of a bishop in euery particular church: yt followeth to shew the traces of this institution in the primitiue church / vvhich succeded next vnto the Apostels.