A30189:220
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.
But if the foundation of faith be overthrown, or the ministry whereunto men be set apart be strange and merely devised, there can be no true calling or ministry, but false and impure.
But if the foundation of faith be overthrowne, or the ministery whereunto men be set apart be strange and meerely devised, there can be no true calling or ministery, but false and impure.
If this distinction of a true Church and Ministry, for substance of Doctrine in points fundamental, and external calling and government, be denied absolutely, I shall desire you to untie a Knot or two, which your self have knit. The Scribes and Pharisees were blind guides, corrupt Teachers, false Prophets, in respect of their doctrine: covetous, ambitious, and otherwise profane, in respect of their conversation: upon what grounds then were they to be heard? because they were called and ordained of God, 1that they should preach the Law o God in the Synagogues to the people, and exhort them to the observation thereof. Is not here the distinction of true and false Teachers, in diverse respects? Rebellious Judah justified her sister Samaria in some respects, and in some other continued the true Church of God. From the time that the ten Tribes departed from the Lord, his Temple, Priests, Altar, &c. it was unlawful to hold communion with them, because they committed Idolatry, and wilfully left the place which the Lord appropriated for his service and sacrifice: but still they retained something of a Church, and were not to be esteemed altogether as heathens as the very places quoted do testify.
If this distinction of a true Church and Ministery, for substance of Doctrine in points fundamentall, and externall calling and government, be denyed absolutely, I shall desire you to unty a Knot or two, which your selfe have knit. The Scribes and Pharisees were blind guids, corrupt Teachers, false Prophets, in respect of their doctrine: covetous, ambitious, and otherwise prophane, in respect of their conversation: upon what grounds then were they to bee heard? because they were called and ordained of God,