A30189:33
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.
Lastly, We boldly challenge any person to come forth, and to make proof either by word, or writing, that this our Reverend Brother either repented his pains, or changed his judgement against the way of separation; which if he shall accordingly do, then will we be content to undergo the severest censures, that are due unto unjust suppressors of the truth. But if any failing herein, shall hereafter persist to promote either by scattering or crediting the forenamed reports, we leave them to the judgement of all indifferent men, whether they deserve not to be accounted defamers of the dead, and liars against the truth, if not subtle promoters of their own cause and course, by pretending falsely the Patronage of their Adversary, when they could not stand before his Arguments.
Lastly, We boldly challenge any person to come forth, and to make proofe either by word, or writing, that this our Reverend Brother either repented his paines, or changed his judgement against the way of separation; which if he shall accordingly doe, then will we be content to undergoe the severest censures, that are due unto unjust suppressors of the truth. But if any failing herein, shall hereafter persist to promote either by scattering or crediting the forenamed reports, wee leave them to the judgement of all indifferent men, whether they deserve not to be accounted defamers of the dead, and lyars against the truth, if not subtile promoters of their owne cause and course, by pretending falsly the Patronage of their Adversary, when they could not stand before his Arguments.
But in probability some will thus reply to our Apology, ⟨image 5⟩That if your friend did not retract, the more was his sin, and the less his honour. Unto whom we return this answer, That this censure strongly presumes his former discourse in the main matter to be erroneous and unjustifiable, whereas that is the thing still in question, and (as we verily believe) cannot be solidly proved. And though our Reverend Brother be dead, (whom God had extraordinarily fitted for disputes of this nature) yet we doubt not but the living Lord will raise up for himself some other instruments to maintain the truth which he had undertaken.