A30189:120
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 godly learned, consonant to the Scriptures, have evermore distinguished betwixt an error in admission into an office, and a flat nullity of the office it self. The Ministers election into his office, 1ought to be according to the Rules of the Word: before he enter into the Ministry, he should be blameless, apt to teach, sound in Faith; and much more is he to approve himself to be such a one in the execution, considering that falls in the execution are much more dangerous to the Church, than before. But defects in the election do not make the calling it self utterly unlawful. If one blame-worthy be elected or tolerated after, he is not to be reputed as one that ministers altogether without a calling. Therefore the Non-conformists never taught that the Minister is not to be heard, or that we must not hold communion with him in the Ordinances of Worship, who is not elected and ordained by the society where he is to administer; though they maintain the consent of the people to be essential to the full complete call of a Minister to that place and people. Thus they do profess in answer to this and such like accusations. Where (saith T.C.) do they reason thus, The Word of God is not preached, because the Ministers are not rightly proved and elected, &c. Is it all one to say it is not purely preached, & it is not truly preached, &c. They never said, that there is no Ministry in England, nor yet do ever conclude, that there is no Word, nor Sacraments, nor Discipline, nor Church.
The godly learned, consonant to the Scriptures, have evermore distinguished betwixt an error in admission into an office, and a flat nullitie of the office it selfe. The Ministers election into his office, 1ought to be according to the Rules of the Word: before he enter into the Ministerie, he should be blamelesse, apt to teach, sound in Faith; and much more is he to approve himself to be such a one in the execution, considering that falls in the execution are much more dangerous to the Church, than before. But defects in the election doe not make the calling it selfe utterly unlawfull. If one blame-worthy be elected or tolerated after, he is not to be reputed as one that ministers altogether without a calling. Therefore the Non-conformists never taught that the Minister is not to be heard, or that wee must not hold communion with him in the Ordinances of Worship, who is not elected and ordained by the societie where he is to administer; though they maintain the consent of the people to be essentiall to the full compleat call of a Minister to that place and people. Thus they doe professe in answere to this and such like accusations. Where (saith T.C.) doe they reason thus, The Word of God is not preached, because the Mnisters are not rightly proved and elected, &c. Is it all one to say it is not purely preached, & it is not truly preached, &c. They nver said, that there is no Ministerie in England, nor yet doe ever conclude, that there is no Word, nor Sacraments, nor Discipline, nor Church.