A30189:312
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. Nieces. of Separate. Pag. 38.
Can. Neces. of Separat. Pag. 38.
The Conformists keep much better to their grounds than the other do. For they profess down right that their ministry is from the Church of Rome, so that if the Popish Bishops, Priests and Deacons be good, theirs be good also, they being from them. Now no doubt these men do well perceive that their ministry cannot possibly be justified unless it be by this way of dispute. In this respect their judgment and practice is one, and so far they are to be commended, and I verily think, that if they were sure that the ministry brought into the Land by the Prelates from Rome is false and Antichristian, as the Nonconformists affirm it to be, that many of them would not hereafter ever have any spiritual communion with it. Truly it would make a man admire if he should understandingly compare together the writings of these two companies, touching a Church ministry. For in their opinions about it, they are as contrary each to other, as light to darkness, Christ to Belial, righteousness to unrighteousness, notwithstanding though so different in judgement, yea they will communicate together in one ministry; but one of these against knowledge offend surely, let them look well to it. For to him that knoweth to do good and doth it not, to him it is sin, that is, his fault is so much the more, and proportionably his condemnation shall be without repentance.
The Conformists keepe much better to their grounds than the other doe. For they professe downe right that their ministery is from the Church of Rome, so that if the Popish Bishops, Priests and Deacons be good, theirs bee good also, they being from them. Now no doubt these men doe well perceive that their ministery cannot possibly be justified unlesse it bee by this way of dispute. In this respect their judgment and practice is one, and so farre they are to bee commended, and I verily thinke, that if they were sure that the ministery brought into the Land by the Prelates from Rome is false and Antichristian, as the Nonconformists affirme it to be, that many of them would not hereafter ever have any spirituall communion with it. Truely it would make a man admire if he should understandingly compare together the writings of these two companies, touching a Church ministery. For in their opinious about it, they are as contrary each to other, as light to darkenesse, Christ to Belial, righteousnesse to unrighteousnesse, notwithstanding though so different in judgement, yea they will communicate together in one ministery; but one of these against knowledge offend surely, let them look well to it. For to him that knoweth to doe good and doth it not, to him it is sinne, that is, his fault is so much the more, and propertionably his condemnation shall be without repentance.