A30189:463
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.
But the whole form (you say) of the English-Church-service-Book, is borrowed out of the Mass-Book, picked and culled out of the Dunghill, as the Nonconformists write. You add, That not only the form, but the matter also was taken out of the Mass-Book.
But the whole forme (you say) of the English-Church-service-Book, is borrowed out of the Masse-Book, picked and culled out of the Dunghill, as the Nonconformists write. You adde, That not onely the forme, but the matter also was taken out of the Masse-Booke.
It is true, the Nonconformists say, it was in great part picked and culled out of the Mass-book; but it followeth not thence, that either it is, or was esteemed by them a devised or false worship; for many things contained in the Mass-book it self, are good and holy. A Pearl may be found upon a Dunghill; we cannot more credit the man of sin, than to say, that every thing in the Mass-book is devilish and Antichristian. ⟨p. 9⟩For then it should be Antichristian to pray unto God, in the mediation of Jesus Christ, to read the Scriptures, to profess many fundamental divine truths necessary to salvation: If any have misliked the Book, because it hath too much likelihood to the Mass-book; that hath not been the judgement of the Nonconformists alone, others have said and written as much, who never yet condemned the use of the Book, or all things therein contained. Popery is a scab or leprosy which cleaveth unto the Church: It standeth mostly, in erroneous, faulty, gross and abominable superstructions upon the true foundation, whereby they poison or overthrow the foundation it self. But take away the superstructions, and the foundation remaineth: remove the leprosy, and the man is sound. Many supernatural divine truths of God are mixed in the Popish Synagogue; as pure gold with much dross or earth, which the refiner is to purge and separate, but not to cast away. Our service was picked and culled out of the Mass-book, you say; and so it might, and yet be free from […] and tincture, from all show and appearance of evil; though the Mass-book it self was fraught with all manner of abominations. For if Antichrist fit in the Temple of God, and profess himself the servant of Jesus Christ, of necessity, some treasures, riches and jewels of the Church must be gathered into his den, which being collected, purged, and refined, might serve to adorn the chaste spouse of Christ. Neither in so doing doth the Church honour Antichrist, but challenge her own right. If she retain ought that belongeth to Antichrist, that is her stain and blemish: but the recovery of that, which Christ, the King and Bridegroom of his Church hath given, as her wealth or ornament, must not be imputed a fault.