A30189:17
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.
Two things are pretended to confirm the former. 1. A passage in the Preface of his Book called, A friendly trial of the grounds tending to separation, &c. pag. 3. his words are these. Many are the objections which are made against set forms of Prayer, and particularly against our book of Common Prayer; All which I have endeavoured to answer severally, not because they are of so great weight; but because I desired fully to satisfy every doubt, &c. Secondly, that in the whole frame of the same book he speaks more covertly and coldly against the corruptions of our Church than became a man who continued steadfast in the ways of Nonconformity.
Two things are pretended to confirme the former. 1. A passage in the Preface of his Book called, A friendly tryall of the grounds tending to separation, &c. pag. 3. his words are these. Many are the objections which are made against set formes of Prayer, and particularly against our booke of Common Prayer; All which I have endeavoured to answer severally, not because they are of so great weight; but because I desired fully to satisfie every doubt, &c. Secondly, that in the whole frame of the same booke he speakes more covertly and coldly against the corruptions of our Church than became a man who continued stedfast in the wayes of Nonconformity.
For Answer whereunto, we affirm in the General, That upon our knowledge he lived and dyed a strict forbearer and firm opposer of all such corruptions as the Nonconformists (heretofore so usually called) had commonly by their public writings disallowed. Nor have ⟨image 3⟩we known any man in that kind more precise, uniform, and constant to his opinion in discourse, prayers, and practices, yet always carried on with Christian moderation and meekness; which graces are of singular use in controversies of this nature: yea some of us can witness his purpose, (if God had lent him longer life) by a set Treatise to have showed himself a plaintiff for the Nonconformists against the corruptions in our Church, as in this he appears their defendant against the Calumnies of Master Can. These testimonies may satisfy the sober minded, that he continued cordial to their cause; whereunto more might be added, but we desire not to revive the remembrance of these differences among dear brethren: Because we pray and hope that through Gods mercy; by means of our Gracious Sovereign, and of the present Parliament, they will in such sort be buried, that they shall arise no more to our disturbance and discomfort.