A30189:102
An answer to two treatises of Mr. John Can, the leader of the English…An answer to two treatises of Mr. Iohn Can, the leader of the English…
An answer to two treatises of Mr. John Can, the leader of the English Brownists in Amsterdam the former called, A necessity of separation from the Church of England, proved by the Nonconformists principles : the other, A stay against straying : wherein in opposition to M. John Robinson, he undertakes to prove the unlawfulness of hearing the ministers of the Church of England ... / by the late learned, laborious and faithful servant of Jesus Christ, John Ball.An answer to two treatises of Mr. Iohn Can, the leader of the English Brownists in Amsterdam the former called, A necessitie of separation from the Church of England, proved by the Nonconformists principles : the other, A stay against straying : wherein in opposition to M. Iohn Robinson, he undertakes to prove the unlawfulnesse of hearing the ministers of the Church of England ... / by the late learned, laborious and faithfull servant of Jesus Christ, John Ball.
London: printed by R.B., 1642
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Which of the Prophets doth not cry out against the Priests in time of the law? Against their pride, oppression, covetousness, tyranny; that they despised knowledge, opposed the true Prophets of the Lord, countenanced impiety and profaneness, and showed themselves enemies to all goodness? ⟨p. 22⟩Did the Prophets then, who knew what it was to work according to their own Principles, teach a necessity of Separation, or give presidents to others to separate by their example! In all ages of the Church, 1complaints have been made against abuses of this nature by all sorts, ancient and modern, who never denied the Churches where the true faith was professed, to be the true Churches of Christ: Cyprian complains thus, Here I am grievously troubled, that the Church hath many Pastors, who not only do not oppose their bodies against the incursions of wolves, but also they themselves do play the parts of wolves, whiles they destroy the souls of the simple, they themselves serving their bellies, gain and ambition; and make merchandise of the Word of God, and adulterate it with ungodly opinions. The Council of Nic• makes complaint, That many things in the admission of Presbyters and Bishops was done contrary to the Rule. Leo, That the office of a Pastor, and government of the Church was committed to men altogether unworthy. Hierom reproacheth the Bishop of Jerusalem, that he could, as himself boasted, make in one hour a thousand Clerks: and condemneth it in others; That Clerks run to the Bishops suffragans certain times of the year, and bringing some sum of money, they are ordained, being chosen of none. Ambrose showeth the abuse in his time, to be this, If a man asked some of them who preferred them to be Priests, answers is made by and by, that the Archbishop for an hundred shillings ordained me Bishop. Nazianzon in Apolog. That they which handle holy things with unwashen hands, and polluted souls, are more in number than they, over whom they rule; Miseri in •iotate, miseri in splendore. And ad Maximum. Ad Pastoralis muneris administrationem nihil contulerunt, ui […] quod comam quam turpiter alere studuerunt, raserunt. And in the same place: De pecumiis jam in ecclesia bellum geritus. When Basil: of an Heathen was made a Christian, he saith That he did greatly wonder at the dissentions, which were in the Church concerning Faith;