A30189:456
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 which you allege against the English-Service-book in particular, Answer. you intend against all set-forms of prayer, or stinted Liturgies whatsoever: For the use of them is a false devised, idolatrous, antichristian worship in your account. Thus you know your Brethren of the Separation have disallowed all set and stinted forms, 1as humane inventions, forbidden in the second Commandment, Images, Will-worship, Idol-prayers, False-worship Lip-labour, &c. And you your self insist upon this principle of the Nonconformists, as the cause of Separation from the Church of England, that all forms of worship not prescribed of God, are will-worship; which if it maketh against one, holdeth against all prescribed Liturgies. 2Again, you confess that every Church is not to be forsaken or left, which hath something in it, by participation, idolatrous: And therefore our Service is not devised worship, because it is taken out of the Mass-book, as you allege; but simply, because it is devised; whencesoever it had its original, if it be devised worship. First therefore we must consider the matter in general, 3and then try what is alleged against our book of Common-prayer.
That which you alledge against the English-Service-booke in particular, Answer. you intend against all set-formes of prayer, or stinted Liturgies whatsoever: For the use of them is a false devised, idolatrous, antichristian worship in your account. Thus you know your Brethren of the Separation have disallowed all set and stinted formes, 1as humane inventions, forbidden in the second Commandement, Images, Will-worship, Idol-prayers, False-worship Lip-labour, &c. And you your selfe insist upon this principle of the Nonconformists, as the cause of Separation from the Church of England, that all formes of worship not prescribed of God, are will-worship; which if it maketh against one, holdeth against all prescribed Liturgies. 2Againe, you confesse that every Church is not to be forsaken or left, which hath something in it, by participation, idolatrous: And therefore our Service is not devised worship, because it is taken out of the Masse-booke, as you alledge; but simply, because it is devised; whencesoever it had its originall, if it be devised worship. First therefore we must consider the matter in generall,