A30189:341
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. Sec. 5. pag. 76. › 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.
It is true, an action is not good, 1unless all circumstances required to the doing of a good act be observed: but the act good in it-self is evil in the doer, if one circumstance be evil. For every thing that is morally good must be conformable to the rule, which, that which is defective in any part required, cannot be. But how shall this be applied to the purpose? Is every deficient act forthwith Idolatrous? Or that which is by circumstance unlawful in the doer, because of his failing, unlawful to every one that doth communicate with him in the Ordinance, but not in the defect? If a Minister preach Christ of envy, do they sin that hear sincerely and receive the truth in love? If a man give alms in vainglory, doth the poor man sin, who receives it in humility and thanksgiving? An action done in one form and manner may be sin, which in another form and manner is the true worship of God, which may be observed of him that is present in our Assemblies.
It is true, an action is not good, 1unlesse all circumstances required to the doing of a good act be observed: but the act good in it-selfe is evill in the doer, if one circumstance bee evill. For every thing that is morally good must be conformable to the rule, which, that which is defective in any part required, cannot be. But how shall this bee applyed to the purpose? Is every deficient act forthwith Idolatrous? Or that which is by circumstance unlawfull in the doer, because of his failing, unlawfull to every one that doth communicate with him in the Ordinance, but not in the defect? If a Minister preach Christ of envie, doe they sinne that heare sincerely and receive the truth in love? If a man give almes in vaineglory, doth the poore man sinne, who receives it in humilitie and thanksgiving? An action done in one forme and manner may be sinne, which in another forme and manner is the true worship of God, which may be observed of him that is present in our Assemblies.