A30189:252
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 5 › CAN Stay. Sect. 15. pag 133. › 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.
ANSWER.
You struggle hard, as all men may perceive, but set not one foot forward. Our Church is an idol, therefore we must not hold communion with it: God hath promised no blessing to his ordinances therein, because the Church is an Idol. This is your circle wherein you walk up and down. But to help you out of this mire, if it may be: 1. 1Where you take it for granted that our Church is false, and therefore Christ is not present with us; we on the contrary are assured, that we are a people in covenant with Christ, to whom he hath committed his heavenly oracles, and seals of the covenant, amongst whom he feedeth his flock in green pastures, and ⟨p. 76⟩causeth them to lye down by the still waters, with whom he is present when they meet together. 2He hath set up his tabernacle amongst us, and dwelleth with us, and watcheth over us, and worketh by his Ministers, not only to call men unto salvation, but to nourish and build them forward unto life everlasting. We are separated from Idols, we hear the voice of the true shepherd, and follow not strangers, but fly from them; we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, and worship him sincerely, according to his will. He standeth at the door knocking, and to such as open unto him he cometh unto them, and they sup with him, and he with them. And therefore Christ is our Shepherd, our King, our Saviour, and of his rich grace and love doth embrace us as his people, and the flock of his pasture, beareth our prayers, and accepteth our service. This is our glory that Christ is ours, and we are his, and it were better for us to dye, than that our glorying herein should be made void.
You struggle hard, as all men may perceive, but set not one foot forward. Our Church is an idoll, therefore wee must not hold communion with it: God hath promised no blessing to his ordinances therein, because the Church is an Idoll. This is your circle wherein you walke up and down. But to helpe you out of this mire, if it may be: 1.