A30189:349
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.
ANSWER.
Ill might you twit your adversary with his little skill in Logic, unless it was done in policy to hide your own looseness in this and the like arguments. For though it be not an Idolatrous act to preach the truth of the Gospel in a false Church, in other respects it may be sin to continue a member in that society, and so also to teach the Gospels Truths, As it may be scandalous and offensive, an appearance of evil. A man may do that whereunto he is not called, from an evil mind. Also ⟨p. 111⟩it may be sin to continue in a false Church, though a man teach nothing but the truth of the Gospel, because he cannot profess all main and fundamental truths, or that border thereupon, nor testify against all corruptions, gross, heretical, really Idolatrous, which in Conscience cannot be tolerated or borne withal without gross hypocrisy or dissimulation; or he cannot keep himself from the tincture of Idolatry in practic•. As for example, though it be not an Idolatrous act for a Popish Priest to preach the Gospel, or administer the Sacraments of Baptism, yet it is not lawful for a Christian to remain as a member in that society, because he cannot partake with them in the Ordinances, but he shall commit real Idolatry, or must dissemble many grievous and hateful abominations, which cannot be dissembled, and shall be thought to be of the same Religion with them, or of no Religion, &c.
Ill might you twit your adversarie with his little skill in Logicke, unlesse it was done in policie to hide your own loosenes in this and the like arguments. For though it be not an Idolatrous act to preach the truth of the Gospell in a false Church, in other respects it may be sinne to continue a member in that societie, and so also to teach the Gospels Truths, As it may be scandalous and offencive, an appearance of evill. A man may doe that whereunto he is not called, from an evill mind. Also