A30189:322
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.
It is generally received for a truth at this day, that Baptism administered by heretics, who err not in the main fundamental truths of Baptism, 1or deny not the essential form of Baptism, is true for substance. And if Baptism be true and must be reverenced as Gods ordinance deserveth, there is some truth of Ministry amongst them. They that think the basest of Rome, will acknowledge the Baptism administered by Priests and Jesuits to be true for substance. And if the Baptism of God may be received or derived from their Ministry, it is no absurdity to affirm, that the first seekers of reformation derived authority from God to preach the Word and administer the Sacraments by their Ministry, or by them, as Stewards used of God to set them in office. The differences which they put between Baptism and the Ministry are to no purpose at all to the point in hand. For let them disser in what they will, herein they agree, that in what society soever, the truth of Baptism is to be found, therein is some truth of Ministry to be found, though marvellous corrupt and polluted.
It is generally received for a truth at this day, that Baptisme administred by heretikes, who erre not in the maine fundamentall truths of Baptisme, 1or deny not the essentiall forme of Baptisme, is true for substance. And if Baptisme be true and must bee reverenced as Gods ordinance deserveth, there is some truth of Ministerie amongst them. They that thinke the basest of Rome, will acknowledge the Baptisme administred by Priests and Jesuites to bee true for substance. And if the Baptisme of God may bee received or derived from their Ministerie, it is no absurditie to affirme, that the first seekers of reformation derived authoritie from God to preach the Word and administer the Sacraments by their Ministerie, or by them, as Stewards used of God to set them in office. The differences which they put betweene Baptisme and the Ministerie are to no purpose at all to the point in hand. For let them disser in what they will, herein they agree, that in what societie soever, the truth of Baptisme is to bee found, therein is some truth of Ministerie to bee found, though marvellous corrupt and polluted.
- 1In the ordination of bishops it is said, Interrogamus te, si omnem prudentiam tuam quantum tua capax est, natura divinae scripturae sensibus accommoder evolueris, vis ea quae ex divinis scripturis intelligis, plebem cui ordinanduses & verbis docere & exemplis Accipe Evangesi? vade & praedica populo tibi commsso