A30189:327
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 7 › CAN Stay ag. Sect. 3. pag. 58. › 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.
Here you come over with the same text of Scripture and the same arguments, whereunto answer hath been given already. But I must follow you in that path, wherein you are pleased to go before me. 1 Will-worship is unlawful, both in the teacher, and them that communicate with him in that worship. But the preaching of the word and administration of the Sacraments in our assemblies is not will-worship, but the ordinance of Christ. 2 To yield any approbation, liking, or reverence unto mens institutions, devised, and to be exercised with opinion of holiness, 1necessity, and worship, is sin. And if this be the meaning of your proposition, we confess the Scriptures teach this very thing, and judicious learned Divines affirm it. And what use there is of heaping up Authors to prove that which is most willingly assented unto, I cannot tell. The Lord hath laid down the way and manner of his worship, and hath not left it to any creature to meddle with, but according to his prescription and appointment. 2The outward worship of God must be strictly done according to his commandment. A good intention there hath no place, works devised by mans fancy, have not only no promise of reward for doing of them, but contrariwise great threatenings and maledictions of God. 3But all institutions of men in the exercise of religion, such, to wit, as be simply matters of order, or appurtenances of worship, as time, place, method, phrase of speech, stinted catechisms, forms of blessing and administration of the Sacraments, &c. be not of that nature, neither doth every ⟨p. 105⟩thing concerning the qualification and exercise of ministry belong to the second Commandment. So that all institutions in general are not condemned in Scripture, nor disliked by godly and learned men, so the general given for direction in such cases be observed. 3 We hold it unlawful outwardly, and but in appearance, to join with Idolaters in their Idolatry: Many words in this matter might well be spared: But we desire to see your commandment, why for every particular act, that in a large sense is Idolatrous, adjoined to the true worship of God,