A30189:423
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.
The Authors which you quote, are ofttimes abused, you mangle their words and make them seem to speak what they never meant or intended. 1The truths they teach (you say) speaking of the Ministers of the English Church) are from God, but the office which gives them power and charge to speak them is from Antichrist, and a special character or mark (as the learned write of the beast). 2Thus said John Chaydon a Martyr of Christ: The Bishops licence to preach the Word of God, is the true character of the beast, that is, of Antichrist, The like M. Bale and others: But no word sounding that way, is to be found in M. Simons, Since their law of Confirmation was made (saith he) the Bishop with the Chrism doth sign the party in the forehead with the character of the cross, And since they made their new office or sacerdotal, thus they make their cate chumine. The child or party is brought to the Church doors, where the Priest maketh a cross with his thumb on the forehead of the child, and at the font, the priest maketh a cross in the right hand of the child, &c. Thus this Author, but to your purpose not one word. M. Bale was so far from condemning the office of Bishops simply as Antichristian, that he himself was Bishop of Osiris in Ireland: And how likely it is then, that he should absolutely condemn a Bishops licence to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the Churches of Christ, as the mark and Character of the beast, let any man judge? What he might condemn, in some respect and consideration in popish bishops, as they stand sworn slaves, to that Antichrist of Rome; that ⟨p. 134⟩cannot be drawn to the testimony of Bishops 3who have cast off the authority, and renounced the doctrine of Antichrist: And the same may be answered to the testimony of John Ch•ydon.
The Authors which you quote, are oftimes abused, you mangle their words and make them seeme to speak what they never meant or intended. 1The truths they teach (you say) speaking of the Ministers of the English Church) are from God, but the office which gives them power and charge to speake them is from Antichrist, and a speciall character or marke (as the learned write of the beast).