A30189:417
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.
But your Pistoler argueth from the effect, not from the event, from the proper effect, not the effect by accident, as you might easily perceive, but that you took liberty to deride what you could not answer. Thus he argueth, The Doctrine taught in the Church of England is the sound and true doctrine of salvation, profitable to beget faith, and to build men forward unto life eternal (not by accident, but of it self) and is ordinarily blessed of God to that end and purpose: Therefore it is not unlawful to hear the word preached in their assemblies. What you talk of Cain's murder, Judas his Treachery, the good that comes by Schisms and Heresies, is only to please your self with by-matters: for the argument is drawn from the proper effect, in respect of means instituted, appointed and blessed of God.
But your Pistoler argueth from the effect, not from the event, from the proper effect, not the effect by accident, as you might easily perceive, but that you tooke liberty to deride what you could not answer. Thus he argueth, The Doctrine taught in the Church of England is the sound and true doctrine of salvation, profitable to beget faith, and to build men forward unto life eternall (not by accident, but of it selfe) and is ordinarily blessed of God to that end and purpose: Therefore it is not unlawfull to heare the word preached in their assemblies. What you talke of Caines murder, Iudas his Treachery, the good that comes by Schismes and Heresies, is only to please your selfe with by-matters: for the argument is drawne from the proper effect, in respect of meanes instituted, appointed and blessed of God.
This Canon is true, if truly applied, and rightly limited, 1parium par ratio est, & contrariorum eadem est ratio. But as you apply it, no good Logician would acknowledge it. For though the word which doth ordinarily beget men unto God, ought to be heard, yet we cannot conclude on the contrary. ⟨p. 132⟩the word which doth not ordinarily beget is not to be heard. For the word is but a moral cause or instrument of faith and repentance, whereby the Spirit worketh not necessarily, but at pleasure. If therefore the Spirit work by the word as his instrument, it is of God and we are bound to hear it: But if God work not by it, effectually to saving conversion, it is of him notwithstanding: So this affirmative is true, sin desereth death: but this negative will not follow on the contrary, good works deserve life. For of justice death is due to the sinner as his wages, but eternal life is the gift of grace. The Papists argue thus. Disgrace done to an Image tendeth to dishonour God; and therefore by the Rule of Contraries; Honour done to an Image, tendeth to the honour of GOD. Their inference and yours turn both upon the same hinges.