A30189:131
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.
It is an injury to the people (as the Non-conformists hold) ⟨p. 36⟩1that a Minister should be thrust upon them against their wills, or whom they never saw, nor heard of. But if the people be few, simple, apt to be deceived, unable to judge of the fitness of a Minister, they stand in need of direction, not only from their own Elders, but from other Churches. The practice of the Apostles will confirm this: for sometimes men were propounded unto the Church to be chosen, and sometimes the choice was wholly left unto them. And was not this for our direction, that more liberty may be given, where the danger is less, and more caution and restraint used, where the danger is apparent, that if they be left unto themselves, either an ill, or an unfit choice shall be made? In reason it is evident, for the child's consent is required in marriage, and the more able he is to choose for himself, the more liberty may Parents grant him in his choice, but if he be not able, or less able, the more watchful must they be over him; and so in this matter.
It is an injurie to the people (as the Non-conformists hold) ⟨p. 36⟩1that a Minister should be thrust upon them against their wills, or whom they never saw, nor heard of. But if the people be few, simple, apt to be deceived, unable to judge of the fitnesse of a Minister, they stand in need of direction, not onely from their owne Elders, but from other Churches. The practice of the Apostles will confirme this: for sometimes men were propounded unto the Church to be chosen, and sometimes the choice was wholly left unto them. And was not this for our direction, that more libertie may be given, where the danger is lesse, and more caution and restraint used, where the danger is apparant, that if they be left unto themselves, either an ill, or an unfit choice shall be made? In reason it is evident, for the childs consent is required in marriage, and the more able he is to chuse for himselfe, the more liberty may Parents grant him in his choice, but if he be not able, or lesse able, the more watchfull must they be over him; and so in this matter.
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