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…

It is true the Conformists and Non-conformists have written on both sides one against the other in matters of Church Government and Ceremonies, (and perhaps with bitterness more than beseemeth) wherein always the forwardest men have not been of the greatest judgment or best moderation: And therefore every thing that is written must not be interpreted as the judgment of all, or most of either side, but as the private opinion of the pen-man; which falleth out in all controversies amongst all sorts. But whatsoever outcry you make of contrarieties, there is no point of that weight and moment, controverted betwixt them, as might justly hinder communion together in the Ordinances of Religion. If their contention had broken forth to such an head, they might have been answered more justly, the one or both sides, to offend of fury, if not against conscience.

It is true the Conformists and Non-conformists have written on both sides one against the other in matters of Church Government and Ceremonies, (and perhaps with bitternesse more than beseemeth) wherein alwayes the forwardest men have not been of the greatest judgment or best moderation: And therefore every thing that is written must not be interprered as the judgment of all, or most of either side, but as the private opinion of the pen-man; which falleth out in all controversies amongst all sorts. But whatsoever outcry you make of contrarieties, there is no point of that weight and moment, controverted betwixt them, as might justly hinder communion together in the Ordinances of Religion. If their contention had broken forth to such an head, they might have beene answered more justly, the one or both sides, to offend of furie, if not against conscience.

The Conformists (you say) keep much better to their grounds than the other do, ¹for they confess down right that their Ministry is from the Church of Rome. It seemeth, you did neither much care, nor enquire what they profess, else you might have seen, they say and profess in this point as the others do. The Conformists (I use that word because you are pleased so to speak) maintain against the Papists, that the first Bishops who laboured reformation in this kingdom, did receive their ordination from Romish Bishops, and had such calling as was to be found in that Church. But do they only acknowledge so much? was not this evermore received for a truth in the ancient Church, that ordination received from heretics, not erring in the main fundamental truths directly, was true and effectual? Do not all reformed Churches which have separated from the abominations of Rome profess that the first reformers amongst them received some ordinary calling in the Church of Rome, which remained in that time of the visible Church corrupted? For some of them were Bishops, some Priests and Doctors approved of the Universities, and ordinary Churches: many of them preached, the Gospel and administered the Sacraments before excommunication or persecution raised by the Adversaries, in that they were sent unto, or set over several Churches or congregations, in which they ought to execute their office or ministration, therein they received commandment to preach the Gospel. If men that sent them did mix anything else to their calling, they must be obedient to divine institution, not to humane addition. So being after an ordinary manner sent of God singularly, they were extraordinarily stirred up of him to promote and set forward his kingdom.