A30189:175
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.
If the word, Worship, be taken more strictly for substantial Worship, commanded in, or referred to the first and second Commandments, usually known by the titles of inward and outward worship, Natural and positive instituted Worship (though perhaps the terms be not so fit, if better were found out) then the meaning is, that no Worship of God, inward or outward, natural or positive, is lawful; but what is prescribed and determined of God in his Word. But then there want not difficulties: for how should Worship be natural, if it must be instituted and prescribed? If the light of nature or reason teach it, which is planted in the heart, by the singer of God, how can it be unlawful, unless it be prescribed by an external ⟨p. 51⟩word of institution? What shall we say of outward gestures, made in and upon the body, to declare the hidden affection of the soul; must these be prescribed, and determined, or fall under this censure? When the Word informeth me to call upon God in the Mediation of Jesus Christ: doth not reason it self without any further institution, teach me to kneel, lift up my hands, &c. At least, if worship be natural, or positive, must there be a distinction of the institution or prescription of this worship also? Doth not positive Worship require one manner of institution; natural another?
If the word, Worship, be taken more strictly for substantiall Worship, commanded in, or referred to the first and second Commandements, usually known by the titles of inward and outward worship, Naturall and positive instituted Worship (though perhaps the termes be not so fit, if better were found out) then the meaning is, that no Worship of God, inward or outward, naturall or positive, is lawfull; but what is prescribed and determined of God in his Word. But then there want not difficulties: for how should Worship be naturall, if it must be instituted and prescribed? If the light of nature or reason teach it, which is planted in the heart, by the singer of God, how can it be unlawfull, unlesse it be prescribed by an externall ⟨p. 51⟩word of institution? What shall wee say of outward gestures, made in and upon the body, to declare the hidden affection of the soule; must these be prescribed, and determined, or fall under this censure? When the Word informeth me to call upon God in the Mediation of Jesus Christ: doth not reason it selfe without any further institution, teach me to kneele, lift up my hands, &c. At least, if worship be naturall, or positive, must there be a distinction of the institution or prescription of this worship also? Doth not positive Worship require one manner of institution; naturall another?