A30189:151
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.
3 Such are Antichristian Ministers, as teach false doctrine, be set apart to an office merely of men, contrary to the Word of God, and live in communion and society with men professing real idolatry, as members of that society, though somewhat of God be joined in this their profession. Whereunto may be referred such as being tried, are found to be false Prophets, censured and cast out of the Church by them that have authority. Of which sort are those Heretics, which are condemned of ⟨p. 43⟩their own conscience, and after once or twice admonition, are to be shunned.
3 Such are Antichristian Ministers, as teach false doctrine, be set apart to an office meerely of men, contrary to the Word of God, and live in communion and societie with men professing reall idolatrie, as members of that societie, though somewhat of God be joyned in this their profession. Whereunto may be referred such as being tried, are found to be false Prophets, censured and cast out of the Church by them that have authority. Of which sort are those Hereticks, which are condemned of ⟨p. 43⟩their own conscience, and after once or twice admonition, are to be shunned.
4 Such are Antichristian, as be merely from men, dispense only the things of Antichrist, and have nothing of God at all. If by Antichristian Teachers be meant false Prophets, 1in this third and fourth acceptation, I grant the faithful must hold no communion with them, because God hath forbidden it, and these are false Prophets, who have no calling, teach their own dreams, minister not the things of God, but of men, and either never were members of the true Church, professing the entire faith, or upon their discovery, are cast forth as unsavoury salt. And this the passages of Scripture, quoted to prove the controversial part, as you say, do confirm, Whereunto answer hath been given already. And the authors of all sorts alleged, do consent: for it is most manifest, they speak of false Prophets, who have no calling, teach false doctrine, were never members of the Church, or springing up, and continuing in the Church for a time, are censured and cast out, that they might not molest, tare and devour the Flock. But in this sense, the Ministers of the Church of England be not Antichristian: that which is spoken against false Prophets, cannot be applied unto them.