A30189:440
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.
As for that which you allege against ignorant, idle, profane Ministers, it is not to the purpose, for that respects not the office it self, but the men in the office, who may enter unlawfully, and ⟨p. 142⟩continue in the execution of their office, 1when the Ministry it self for substance, and that which is done by Ministers unlawfully executing their place, is not to be condemned as a nullity. It is one thing to justify an ignorant or idle ministry, another to make use of that which he doth to our edification according to the Ordinance of God. They are not approved of God in their ministration, but what they do administer is effectual, and God approveth that his people, when they cannot remove them, should make use of their Ministry. This the Non-conformists hold agreeable to their own principles, as hath been showed at large.
As for that which you alledge against ignorant, idle, profane Ministers, it is not to the purpose, for that respects not the office it selfe, but the men in the office, who may enter unlawfully, and ⟨p. 142⟩continue in the execution of their office, 1when the Ministery it selfe for substance, and that which is done by Ministers unlawfully executing their place, is not to be condemned as a nullitie. It is one thing to justifie an ignorant or idle ministerie, another to make use of that which hee doth to our edification according to the Ordinance of God. They are not approved of God in their ministration, but what they doe administer is effectuall, and God approveth that his people, when they cannot remove them, should make use of their Ministerie. This the Non-conformists hold agreeable to their owne principles, as hath been shewed at large.
- 1The Church of Corinth had then, as all other Churches now have (or should have) both praying & preaching annexed and adjoined to the ministration of the Lords Supper. Both these yet are and ever were the means which God ordained to prepare us to be fit guests for that Table. Bishop Jewel his Sermon on