A30189:134
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.
Brotherly society requireth, that we mutually admonish, exhort, reprove and comfort each other, as occasion is offered, and when need requireth, it is the duty of neighbour-Churches ⟨p. 37⟩to lend help to their brethren, in the choice and election of their Minister. 1For if Churches have not fit men amongst them for the Ministry, nor able men to make choice for themselves, they are to be holpen in love, without prejudice to their liberty, and not to be discarded and cast off as unworthy the name of a Church: When the Scripture willeth, that one should admonish another, it is not only a commandment to every singular man towards his fellow, 2but also to one whole company towards another society. St. Paul, when he teacheth that all the faithful are members of one mystical body of Christ, who ought to have a mutual care one of another, laid the foundation of this policy. Bellar asketh, Quo jure unus populus episcopum alterius populi eligere potest? Junius answereth; 3Certè charitatis jure & communionis sanctorum: nam populus infidelis ipse non potest eligere, utpote nondum vocatus, sed postea vocandus ad Christum. And a little after, to Bellarmine, objecting the dangers which may follow in popular elections, he answereth. The danger is not so great, ubi conjunctus est Clerus, & actionem dirigit Presbyterium, praesertim consilio & auctoritate vicinorum Episcoporum & Ecclesiarum accedente. And after that, Et boni vicini quoque accedant ex ordine, 4& fratres alti ex communi officio charitatis, si quando opus est, prout Ambrosium fecisse Nediolanensi Ecclesiae narrat Theodor. hist. lib. 4. cap. 7.
Brotherly societie requireth, that we mutually admonish, exhort, reprove and comfort each other, as occasion is offered, and when need requireth, it is the duty of neighbour-Churches ⟨p. 37⟩to lend helpe to their brethren, in the choice and election of their Minister.