A30189:129
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.
Here we see the Non-conformists agreeable to the Scripture, sound reason, the consent of all Antiquity, and their own Principles do plainly distinguish betwixt a maim or defect in the calling of a Minister, and no calling at all: that it is great ignorance, or (to speak most favourably▪) inconsiderateness to charge them, as if they went against their own Principles, in holding Communion with the Churches of England in the ordinances of Gods worship.
Here wee see the Non-conformists agreeable to the Scripture, sound reason, the consent of all Antiquitie, and their own Principles doe plainely distinguish betwixt a maime or defect in the calling of a Minister, and no calling at all: that it is great ignorance, or (to speak most favourably▪) inconsideratenesse to charge them, as if they went against their own Principles, in holding Communion with the Churches of England in the ordinances of Gods worship.
And if haste had not blinded, 1this you might have observed out of the Separatists themselves. There is (saith one speaking of Baptism) in this point a further consideration to be had, unto which both the Scriptures, and our own experience do lead us: namely, that as the Lord hath his people in Babylon, his I mean, both in respect of election, and of personal sanctification: so hath he for their sakes there preserved (notwithstanding all the Apostasy and confusion which is found in it) sundry his holy truths and ordinances, amongst which Baptism is one. But if his ordinances be preserved, or any one of them true for substance, of necessity some truth of Ministry, whereby those ordinances be administered, must be preserved also.
And if haste had not blinded, 1this you might have observed out of the Separatists themselves. There is (saith one speaking of Baptisme) in this point a further consideration to be had, unto which both the Scriptures, and our owne experience doe lead us: namely, that as the Lord hath his people in Babylon, his I meane, both in respect of election, and of personall sanctification: so hath he for their sakes there preserved (notwithstanding all the Apostasie and confusion which is found in it) sundry his holy truths and ordinances, amongst which Baptisme is one. But if his ordinances be preserved, or any one of them true for substance, of necessity some truth of Ministerie, whereby those ordinances be administred, must bee preserved also.