A30189:219
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
Chapter 1 › Section 4 › Can. Stay. Sect. 3. Pag. 20.21. › ANSWER.
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.
These Philosophical Rules are impertinently alleged by you, for the external order or government and entire profession of faith are not opposite, they may be separated in part, and they may and ought to be joined together. The faith and doctrine strictly taken may be entire, when the external order is pure and holy: and the order may be maimed and defective, when the doctrine is found in points fundamental: And the doctrine may be very corrupt and rotten, when the external ⟨p. 65⟩order is observed according to the rule; and therefore a Church may be true in doctrine and profession of faith, strictly taken, when for matters of order it labours under great defects; though in respect of outward order and government, it cannot be the true Church, when it destroyeth the foundation of the faith. For if the faith be taught entirely, 1and the Sacraments rightly administered, it cannot be but the ministry in that Church must be true for substance, what other defects soever it labour under.
These Philosophicall Rules are impertinently alledged by you, for the externall order or government and intire profession of faith are not opposite, they may be separated in part, and they may and ought to be joyned together. The faith and doctrine strictly taken may be intire, when the externall order is pure and holy: and the order may be maimed and defective, when the doctrine is found in points fundamentall: And the doctrine may bee very corrupt and rotten, when the externall ⟨p. 65⟩order is observed according to the rule; and therefore a Church may be true in doctrin and profession of faith, strictly taken, when for matters of order it labours under great defects; though in respect of outward order and government, it cannot be the true Church, when it destroyeth the foundation of the faith. For if the faith bee taught intirely, 1and the Sacraments rightly administred, it cannot be but the ministerie in that Church must bee true for substance, what other defects soever it labour under.
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