A30189:474
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.
The Nonconformists never passed any condemnatory sentence against the Book of Common-prayer, Answer. as if it was false or devised worship, or against the use of a stinted form, as if to read it, was an high transgression before the Lord. Enough hath been said of their opinion in the former section, whereunto add this testimony of a man of another Nation, whom you are pleased to stile a chief Nonconformist; 1The famous confession of faith well known and commended at home and abroad, the forms of prayer publicly used in the Congregations and families of Scotland, must be cast in a new mould.
The Nonconformists never passed any condemnatorie sentence against the Booke of Common-prayer, Answer. as if it was false or devised worship, or against the use of a stinted forme, as if to reade it, was an high transgression before the Lord. Enough hath beene said of their opinion in the former section, whereunto adde this testimony of a man of another Nation, whom you are pleased to stile a chiefe Nonconformist; 1The famous confession of faith well known and commended at home and abroad, the formes of prayer publiquely used in the Congregations and families of Scotland, must be cast in a new mould.
- 1Course of Confor. pag. 58.
It is true, 1the Nonconformists judge it unlawful to subscribe to that Book, that every thing contained therein is agreeable to the Scripture, but they condemn not the Book as an Idol or profane, nor the use of the Book in those things which are consonant to the truth. And of this their judgement there is evident ground: for we must not approve the least error (though in it self never so harmless) for truth, because that were to lie against the truth, and the God of truth needeth not my lie: But many things must be tolerated, when it is not in our power to amend them, which we cannot approve, otherwise we must hold communion with no Church or society in the world. And of this mark are the corruptions noted in the Communion-Book, as hath been showed, and is evident by the particulars mentioned in passages which you allege.