William Cunningham on the error of hyper-regulativism in relation to Richard Hooker and Thomas Cartwright

[Reformed Covenanter]

... The second book of [Richard] Hooker’s Ecclesiastical Polity is entirely directed against this erroneous and exaggerated view of the Presbyterian principle; and though Thomas Cartwright, against whom chiefly the Ecclesiastical Polity was written, and who is there usually designated as “T. C.,” may have laid himself open to Hooker’s attack by some rash and unqualified statements upon this point, yet I am persuaded that, upon the whole, Hooker did not represent with perfect fairness the sentiments of his opponents upon this subject; and at any rate it is manifest that the great general principle, with the limitation and modification contained in the clause of the [Westminster] Confession we are at present considering, and introduced no doubt for this very purpose, escapes entirely from the range of Hooker’s argument. ...

For more, see William Cunningham on the error of hyper-regulativism in relation to Richard Hooker and Thomas Cartwright.

 

[NaphtaliPress]

Any idea what the rash statements by Cartwright are?

... The second book of [Richard] Hooker’s Ecclesiastical Polity is entirely directed against this erroneous and exaggerated view of the Presbyterian principle; and though Thomas Cartwright, against whom chiefly the Ecclesiastical Polity was written, and who is there usually designated as “T. C.,” may have laid himself open to Hooker’s attack by some rash and unqualified statements upon this point, yet I am persuaded that, upon the whole, Hooker did not represent with perfect fairness the sentiments of his opponents upon this subject; and at any rate it is manifest that the great general principle, with the limitation and modification contained in the clause of the [Westminster] Confession we are at present considering, and introduced no doubt for this very purpose, escapes entirely from the range of Hooker’s argument. ...

For more, see William Cunningham on the error of hyper-regulativism in relation to Richard Hooker and Thomas Cartwright.

 

[Reformed Covenanter]

Any idea what the rash statements by Cartwright are?

I do not know directly, as it would be hard to trawl through of all Thomas Cartwright's writings in English (nevermind the Latin stuff) given how difficult it is to read. From what I have read in the secondary sources, however, William Cunningham's analysis sounds accurate.

 

[NaphtaliPress]

I do not know directly, as it would be hard to trawl through of all Thomas Cartwright's writings in English (nevermind the Latin stuff) given how difficult it is to read. From what I have read in the secondary sources, however, William Cunningham's analysis sounds accurate.

It's not easy to find stuff if one figures out which of the replies TC made to Whitgift is being referenced. I generally first see what I can find in Whitgift in his works since he practically quotes all of TC in what is a painfully long controversy of pamphlets between the two. And all in black letter which is I guess what you mean. Terribly difficult reading.