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…

I might say to you in your own words, ¹This is to gratify the error of Montanus, who professed that he knew more than the Apostles. For the Apostles knew nothing of our removing from all false assemblies (as you understand it) and covenanting together to walk in all Gods ways, and serve God among themselves. If this had been known to John, when he foretold the Apostasy from the faith, and the rising of the great Whore, he would have made more haste to warn the faithful to be gone out of the Churches, and to have withdrawn themselves, it being a matter of such weight and importance, and so needful to be done, divers hundred years, before it was ever once thought upon, When the words of a Text are plain, a gree with the circumstances of the place, the analogy of faith, and other Scriptures, for men then to leave the native sense, and to force a sense contrary to that the letter expresseth, it is to wrest the Scriptures, as you say, and not to expound them by the true rules and Canons of Divinity. ²Lay this rule to the present interpretation, which you make of this passage in Scripture, and whomsoever you accuse, you shall find your self to be a perverter of Scripture, in degree far above him. For your interpretation is contrary to the scope and drift of the place, the rules of faith, and consent of other Scriptures. It speaks not of leaving all administrations in false Churches, as you speak o• false administrations and false Churches, but of separation from spiritual Babylon, which was the habitation of Devils, and cage of every unclean spirit and of every unclean and hateful bird: which cannot be said of all administrations which you are pleased to accuse as false. If it may be, spare your words, and ⟨p. 71⟩let us hear your reasons, for if they be ought they will carry more weight.

I might say to you in your owne words, ¹This is to gratifie the errour of Montanus, who professed that he knew more than the Apostles. For the Apostles knew nothing of our removing from all false assemblies (as you understand it) and covenauting together to walke in all Gods wayes, and serve God among themselves. If this had beene knowne to John, when hee foretold the Apostasie from the faith, and the rising of the great Whore, he would have made more haste to warne the faithfull to bee gone out of the Churches, and to have withdrawn themselvs, it being a matter of such weight and importance, and so needfull to be done, divers hundred years, before it was ever once thought upon, When the words of a Text are plaine, a gree with the circumstances of the place, the analogie of faith, and other Scriptures, for men then to leave the native sense, and to force a sense contrary to that the letter expresseth, it is to wrest the Scriptures, as you say, and not to expound them by the true rules and Canons of Divinitie.