A30189:452
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 the Non-conformists should affirm the worship of God, or ministry in the English Assemblies, to be as false, idolatrous, and unlawful, as was the worship of Jeroboam at Dan and Bethel, is a most lewd and impudent slander; which the sworn shavelings of Antichrist, whose profession is to lye and slander for the catholic cause, would blush to vent. You know it is contrary to their judgement, practice, profession, and protestations many times renewed. Whether the phrase be tolerable or no, if you will be prodigal to pawn your head in this case, take heed lest you loose it, not in Gods cause, but in your own. And if you shall be desperate herein, your forwardness will move no wise man; for Religion is to be learned from the truth of God, and not from the high adventures of inconsiderate men. The Non-conformists can prove the Religion and worship of the Church of England to be of God, not by petty reasons and colourable shows (which they leave to them that maintain a bad cause) but by pregnant evidence from the word of truth; not by similitudes, allegories, and forced interpretations of Scripture (as you dispute against it) but by plain texts of Scripture, and sound reason deduced therefrom, against which the gates of hell shall never prevail.
That the Non-conformists should affirme the worship of God, or ministery in the English Assemblies, to be as false, idolatrous, and unlawfull, as was the worship of Jeroboam at Dan and Bethel, is a most lewd and impudent slander; which the sworne shaveling• of Antichrist, whose profession is to lye and slander for the catholique cause, would blush to vent. You know it is contrary to their judgement, practice, prosession, and protestations many times renewed. Whether the phrase be tolerable or no, if you will be prodigall to pawne your head in this case, take heed lest you loose it, not in Gods cause, but in your owne. And if you shall be desperate herein, your forwardnesse will move no wise man; for Religion is to be learned from the truth of God, and not from the high adventures of inconsiderate men. The Non-conformists can prove the Religion and worship of the Church of England to be of God, not by petty reasons and colourable shewes (which they leave to them that maintaine a bad cause) but by pregnant evidence from the word of truth; not by similitudes, allegories, and forced interpretations of Scripture (as you dispute against it) but by plaine texts of Scripture, and sound reason deduced therefrom, against which the gates of hell shall never prevaile.