A30189:104
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.
The accusations which are brought against both the Ministers and members in the Separatists Congregations are not few, nor light, nor such as can be wiped away with reproaches. All these have borne witness of the great disorders and corruptions, ⟨p. 24⟩which have been in the Church of God, but they never deemed the society was to be abandoned, because of these great and erroneous blemishes, rather they sought the redress and reformation of what was amiss.
The accusations which are brought against both the Ministers and members in the Separatists Congregations are not few, nor light, nor such as can be wiped away with reproaches. All these have borne witnesse of the great disorders and corruptions, ⟨p. 24⟩which have been in the Church of God, but they never deemed the societie was to be abandoned, because of these great and erroneous blemishes, rather they sought the redresse and reformation of what was amisse.
If some things of man be mixed with that which is of God, as humane superiority with divine Ministry, the pure wheat with some chase, the holy Sacraments with rites savouring of superstition, a found Christian is not to cast away what is of God, as a nullity, fruitless, defiled, Antichristian, Idolatrous, because somewhat humane is annexed unto them, nor in defence of the good to be charged or condemned, as going cross to that which he taught against the evil. 1If an unmeet Minister be set in office, by whomsoever the election is made, he is of men, or humane: but forthwith there followeth not a nullity of his Ministry. If a fit Minister be chosen disorderly, in that choice there is somewhat humane, but the Office or Ministry is of God. In the body we can distinguish between the substance and the sickness which cleaveth unto it; betwixt the substance of some member, and a bunch or swelling, which is a deformity, but destroyeth not the nature, taketh not away the use of that part or member.