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…

They that join together in the worship of God, ¹& ordinances of Religion, they approve the faith professed in points fundamental, the worship performed for the substance, Ordinances administered and the truth of Ministry for substance, whereby these things are dispensed. For of necessity, if the doctrine of salvation be restored, the lawful use of the ministry is restored also. Where God is truly called upon in the Congregation, and the Sacraments rightly dispensed, there is a true ministry, whereby these offices are rightly exercised. But the particular Laws, manner of Government and orders in the Church, the qualifications or qualities of the Minister or Communicants, their disorders, carelessness, or other miscarriage in the administration, he doth not approve really or interpretatively by his presence at the Ordinances. If the Ministers be careless, proud, covetous, superstitious, enemies to true godliness, friends to profaneness; if they aspire after dignity, love preeminence, prate against the brethren, they that communicate with them in the Ordinances of Religion, do neither in so doing countenance them in sin, nor approve their doings. If the Communicants be ignorant, earthly minded, disobedient, profane, scandalous, they that communicate with them in the true worship of God, and therein hold external society, because they have not liberty to depart themselves, nor power to cast the others out, they are not defiled with their sin, nor partakers in their transgression. And the same may be said of orders and rites established by the constitution of men presence at the ordinance doth not enwrap a Christian within the guilt thereof, nor was it ever the pub•lke intention of the state, that all present should approve every particular institution or order. It sufficeth if they approve the faith professed, and worship performed, which are of God.

They that joyn together in the worship of God, ¹& ordinances of Religion, they approve the faith protessed in points fundamentall, the worship performed for the substance, Ordinances administred and the truth of Ministerie for substance, whereby these things are dispensed. For of necessitie, if the doctrine of salvation be restored, the lawful use of the ministery is restored also. Where God is truelie called upon in the Congregation, and the Sacraments rightlie dispensed, there is a true ministerie, whereby these offices are rightlie exercised. But the particular Lawes, manner of Government and orders in the Church, the qualifications or qualities of the Minister or Communicants, their disorders, carelesnesse, or other miscarriage in the administration, he doth not approve reallie or interpretatively by his presence at the Ordinances. If the Ministers be carelesse, proud, covetous, superstitious, enemies to true godlinesse, friends to profanenesse; if they aspire after dignitie, love preheminence, prate against the brethren, they that communicate with them in the Ordinances of Religion, doe neither in so doing countenance them in sinne, nor approve their doigs. If the Communicants be ignorant, earthlie minded, disobedient, prophane, scandalous, they that communicate with them in the true worship of God, and therein hold externall societie, because they have not libertie to depart themselves, nor power to cast the others out, they are not defiled with their sinne, nor partakers in their transgression. And the same may be said of orders and rites established by the constitution of men presence at the ordinance doth not enwrape a Christian within the guilt thereof, nor was it ever the publke intention of the state, that all present should approve every particular institution or order. It sufficeth if they approve the faith professed, and worship performed, which are of God.