A30189:504
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
Chapter 2 › Section 4 › ANSWER.Chapter 2 › Section 4 › ANSVVER.
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.
ANSWER.
ANSVVER.
TO your two last Questions, answer hath been made divers times in sundry Treatises, and in the first chapter of this present answer, and you know the Scriptures plainly alleged, to confirm what is said, which you should have confuted if you had been able, and not again and again to come over with the same thing. If any learned Divine shall answer the demand with deep silence, it may be because the party demanding is uncapable of an answer, not because there is any great difficulty in the matter. It is a received Rule, That the Accuser, Plaintiff, and Affirmer, should make proof of what they say, and if you err, your Questionist will affirm, it is all one for the people of the Jews to hear Jeroboam's Priests at Dan and Bethel, and the people in England to hear the word of God in our assemblies, you must either bring good evidence for what you say, or bear the brand of Slanderers or false nAccusers. Is it sufficient think you to say, If it be not so, let them show the contrary. Your second Question will come to be handled in the next Chapter, and there it shall be answered. Your first Question only which I scarce think another man would have asked, pertaineth to this place whereunto I answer directly and plainly, That a Minister of the Gospel, may hold, teach, and practise, according to the Book of Common Prayer, Articles, and Ordination, and be a true Minister of Jesus Christ. Nay, he cannot truly hold and practice according to them, but of necessity he must be a true Minister in respect of his office and administration. For the worship for substance there prescribed is of God, the doctrine professed in respect of faith and Sacraments, sound and true. No error either in speech heretical, or which doth tend to overthrow the foundation which is taught in them. Suppose the seventy errors which oyou reckon up were all true, and justly taken against the Books, and as many more to them might be named; as it is not the number but the qualities of the errors which make a false Prophet, false Church, or false worship. One fundamental error (as the word is commonly used) overthroweth the faith: and twenty errors of inferior