A30189:305
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 6 › CAN. Necess. of Separation, Pag. 37. › 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.
The learned among the Papists themselves freely confess, that that wherein a Bishop excelleth a Presbyter, is not a distinct and higher order or power of order, but a kind of dignity or office and employment only. Episcopacy is not another order distinct from the Priest-hood, saith Capreolus. No Prelate hath more concerning Sacramental power, or of order, than simple Priests. So Armachanus. As concerning Sacerdotal order, 1and things that pertain to order, they are equal. Thus Bellarmine himself. Although a Bishop and Presbyter are distinguished, yet as concerning Sacrifice they exercise the same ministry, and therefore they make one order and not two. Cusanus goeth further. All Bishops and haply also Presbyters are of equal power in respect of jurisdiction, although not of execution: which executive exercise is shut up and restrained by certain positive Laws. And Johannes de Parisijs, de potost. Regal. & Papal. ca. 10. Some ⟨p. 95⟩say a Presbyter hath the same power in his Parish, that a Bishop hath in his Diocese. From which their confession it will evidently follow that Ministers ordained by Presbyters, to whom the care and government of the Church belongeth are true Ministers.2
The learned among the Papists themselves freely confesse, that that wherein a Bishop excelleth a Presbyter, is not a distinct and higher order or power of order, but a kind of dignity or office and employment only. Episcopacy is not another order distinct from the Priest-hood, saith Capreolus. No Prelate hath more concerning Sacramentall power, or of order, than simple Priests. So Armachanus. As concerning Sacerdotall order, 1and things that pertaine to order, they are equall. Thus Bellarmine himselfe. Although a Bishop and Presbyter are distinguished, yet as concerning Sacrifice they exercise the same ministery, and therefore they make one order and not two. Cusanus goeth further. All Bishops and haply also Presbyters are of equall power in respect of jurisdiction, although not of execution: which executive exercise is shut up and restrayned by certaine positive Lawes. And Iohannes de Parisijs, de potost. Regal. & Papal. ca. 10. Some ⟨p. 95⟩