A30189:248
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.
CAN Stay. Sect. 15. pag 133.
The Lord hath not promised to them his blessing and acceptance: what the Lord may accept or will, we dispute not, only this, I say, whosoever heareth in a false Church, cannot by any promise that he hath in the word of God, expect Gods blessing on that which he doth: the reason is, because a true constitution of a true Church, that is, where men are gathered according to the Gospel of Christ, is that only lawful religious society, or communion of Saints, wherein God will ⟨p. 75⟩be honoured, whereby he will be served, and whereto he hath promised his presence and acceptance, so then howsoever we are not bound unto hearing in a true Church, necessitate medii; as if Gods grace were tied to the means this way, yet as they say in Schools, necessitate praecepti: if we consider Gods commandment, 1so we are bound to Church hearing only in a true Church, and in no other Church can we expect Gods presence, promise and acceptance. Such Churches unto whom God hath made no promise in his word, to bless the things there done, ought not by Gods people to be resorted to; but God in his word hath made no promise to bless the things done in a false church; therefore Gods people are not to go unto false churches. The proposition cannot be excepted against: for, 1. The Scriptures prove it clearly, Jer. 23.21, 22. Exodus 20 24.