A30189:451
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.
That all worship, Answer. which hath not warrant from Gods word, is unlawful; 1that all devised, false, and idolatrous worship is to be abhorred, is confessed and professed by Conformists and Nonconformists. It is a constant received position, That nothing ought to be tolerated in the Church as necessary unto salvation, or as an article of faith, except it be expressly contained in the word of God, or manifestly to be gathered therefrom: and that all ceremonies are to be rejected, wherein there is placed opinion of merit, worship, or necessity to salvation. ⟨p. 3⟩But that the worship tendered to God in the English Congregations, is devised, false, idolatrous, that the Nonconformists never said, nor thought; and whosoever shall rashly affirm it, he shall never be able to make proof thereof, by the word of God. If any rite prescribed in the book of Common-prayer be worship, in the use thereof, the word being taken in a large signification, that is not so in the intention and profession of the Church, nor apprehended to be so in them that conform unto it, neither doth it defile the worship of God, to them that join in the ordinances of grace, notwithstanding the corruption which in their judgement is annexed to it, and practised by some. For notwithstanding such corruption, or abuse, the worship it self is that which God hath prescribed, approved, blessed to them that seek his face aright, and serve him unfeignedly; whereat he requireth our presence, and wherein he hath promised to sup with us, and we with him.
That all worship, Answer. which hath not warrant from Gods word, is unlawfull; 1that all devised, false, and idolatrous worship is to be abhorred, is confessed and professed by Conformists and Nonconformists. It is a constant received position, That nothing ought to be tolerated in the Church as necessary unto salvation, or as an article of faith, except it be expresly contained in the word of God, or manifestly to be gathered therefrom: and that all ceremonies are to be rejected, wherein there is placed opinion of merit, worship, or necessitie to salvation. ⟨p. 3⟩But that the worship tendred to God in the English Congregations, is devised, false, idolatrous, that the Nonconformists never said, nor thought; and whosoever shall rashly affirme it, he shall never be able to make proofe thereof, by the word of God. If any rite prescribed in the book of Common-prayer be worship, in the use thereof, the word being taken in a large signification, that is not so in the intention and profession of the Church, nor apprehended to be so in them that conforme unto it, neither doth it defile the worship of God, to them that joyne in the ordinances of grace, notwithstanding the corruption which in their judgement is annexed to it, and practised by some. For notwithstanding such corruption, or abuse, the worship it selfe is that which God hath prescribed, approved, blessed to them that seeke his face aright, and serve him unfeignedly; whereat he requireth our presence, and wherein he hath promised to sup with us, and we with him.