A30189:152
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.
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.
4 Such are Antichristian, as be meerely from men, dispense onely 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 faithfull must hold no communion with them, because God hath forbidden it, and these are false Prophets, who have no calling, teach their owne dreames, minister not the things of God, but of men, and either never were members of the true Church, professing the intire faith, or upon their discoverie, are cast forth as unsavorie salt. And this the passages of Scripture, quoted to prove the controversall part, as you say, doe confirme, Whereunto answere hath been given already. And the authours of all sorts alledged, doe consent: for it is most manifest, they speake 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 devoure 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 applyed unto them.