A30189:414
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.
Blaming your Treatiser that he comes so naked into the field, 1you say, I never saw in my life an error held by a man of Learning, that hath less brought to countenance it than this. For whereas others do commonly quote Scriptures (albeit mis-applied) and allege for themselves the judgements of other men, 2He goeth not this way to work. And better it is to go plainly and simply to work in the defence of his cause, than to wrest Scripture, mis-allege Authors, and abuse a show of Learning to seduce and beguile the simple. But you have made choice of the more common, though the most sinful course. You pretend Scriptures, but handle them amiss: Quote Authors, but chop and change their words, force them to speak, what they never meant; and when all is done, they will be found to make nothing for, but direct against you. 3You make use of Logical Maxims and Theological Principles, but your mistakes are gross and palpable in the application of them. Some men (you say) in matters of controversy care not though they lose the peace of Conscience, so they may gain their supposed victory. And if you have not offered violence to your Conscience in those writings, you have not advisedly considered what you have done.
Blaming your Treatiser that he comes so naked into the field, 1you say, I never saw in my life an error held by a man of Learning, that hath lesse brought to countenance it than this. For whereas others doe commonly quote Scriptures (albeit mis-applyed) and alledge for themselves the judgements of other men, 2He goeth not this way to worke. And better it is to goe plainely and simply to worke in the defence of his cause, than to wrest Scripture, mis-alledge Authors, and abuse a show of Learning to seduce and beguile the simple. But you have made choyse of the more common, though the most sinfull course. You pretend Scriptures, but handle them amisse: Quote Authors, but chop and change their words, force them to speake, what they never meant; and when all is done, they will bee found to make nothing for, but direct against you.