A30189:390
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 8 › CAN Stay sect. 12 pag. 119, 120. › 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.
Neither doth the delivery and utterance of some truth make a true prophet, for the Heathen Witches and Wizards, nay the Devil himself hath spoken some truth, that he might the better deceive. But as the possession of all supernatural truth necessary to salvation is proper to the Church: so to preach the whole counsel of God unto his people, is the special badge of a true Prophet, and the fruit whereby he is known. Mark this well, for (to use your own phrase) it showeth all your answer to be coecum insomnium, a vain dream and nothing else. It is the note of a false Prophet to run when God doth not send him. But can it be showed, that ever Minister did teach the whole counsel of God unto his flock, 1who was not sent of God? The places cited make it evident, that they whom God did not send, they taught false things in his name: as they run when he sent them not, so they prophesied when he spake not unto them. In some cases it is true the Church for a time may be without Ministers, as when the pastor is taken away by death, or the Church dispersed by persecution, or the people negligent to procure teachers, and the like. But ordinarily the Church is not destitute of true Ministers, nor is there a true ministry to be found but in the Church. And therefore seeing the society professing the true faith entirely, and holding the communion of Saints, is the true Church: the Ministers teaching sound doctrine in those societies, and maintaining the unity of the Spirit, must of necessity be true Ministers.
Neither doth the deliverie and utterance of some truth make a true prophet, for the Heathen Witches and Wizards, nay the Divel himselfe hath spoken some truth, that he might the better deceive. But as the possession of all supernaturall truth necessarie to salvation is proper to the Church: so to preach the whole counsell of God unto his people, is the speciall badge of a true Prophet, and the fruit whereby hee is knowne. Marke this well, for (to use your owne phrase) it sheweth all your answer to be coecum insomnium, a vain dream and nothing else. It is the note of a false Prophet to run when God doth not send him. But can it be shewed, that ever Minister did teach the whole counsell of God unto his flocke, 1who was not sent of God? The places cited make it evident, that they whom God did not send, they taught false things in his name: as they run when he sent them not, so they prophesied when he spake not unto them. In some cases it is true the Church for a time may bee without Ministers, as when the pastor is taken away by death, or the Church dispersed by persecution, or the people negligent to procure teachers, and the like. But ordinarily the Church is not destitute of true Ministers, nor is there a true ministerie to be found but in the Church. And therefore seeing the societie professing the true faith intirely, and holding the communion of Saints, is the true Church: the Ministers teaching sound doctrine in those societies, and maintaining the unitie of the Spirit, must of necessitie be true Ministers.