A30189:117
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.
Though Cyprian teach, That Ministers should be chosen by the people, yet this form of Election was not in some Churches in Cyprian's time, who were esteemed true Churches, and true Ministers. And Cyprian himself appointed Aurelius a Reader, without advice of the Church, by the authority of his fellow-Ministers then present.
Though Cyprian teach, That Ministers should be chosen by the people, yet this forme of Election was not in some Churches in Cyprians time, who were esteemed true Churches, and true Ministers. And Cyprian himselfe appointed Aurelius a Reader, without advice of the Church, by the authoritie of his fellow-Ministers then present.
Pinianus was ordained of the people, Elder of the Church, against Augustine's mind and will. Athanasius made Frumentius Bishop, and sent him to the Indies, he created Presbyters in other Churches, and when he came into Egypt, as many as he knew addicted to the Arian heresy, he put them out of their place, and whose Faith he tried and approved, to them he committed the Churches. The Church of Cyzicena gave this honour to Atticus, that without his consent, it could not choose a Bishop. You will not deny but the Ministry of the Church for the first, second, and third, and fourth hundred years after Christ, was true, and might be joined withal. For thus writeth a friend of yours (and as it is supposed by your aide.) It is affirmed by the Centuries of Magdeburg, that from Christs ascension, unto Trajans time, which is about an hundred years, every particular Church was governed by the Bishops, Elders and Deacons, and describing the state of Christian Churches, from Trajans reign unto Severus (that is, from the year of Christ 100 to 195) thus they write, The order of Government was popular, for all Churches had equal power of teaching purely the ⟨p. 28⟩Word of God, administration of the Sacraments, excommunication of heretics and wicked persons, loosing the penitent, the election and ordination of Ministers, and the deposition of them again for just cause. And even unto Constantine's time, The Primitive purity of Church Government was not yet deflowered, with the dregs of mans invention.