A30189:55
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.
CHAP. I.
The Question betwixt us is, Whether by the Scriptures, and principles of the Nonconformists, 1Separation from the Church of England be necessary or lawful? Those that hold it lawful to be present at the preaching of the Word, but not to partake in the prayers of the Congregations, nor to be present at the Sacraments there administered, I leave to their own defence: The necessity or lawfulness of Separation is that which I deny.
THe Question betwixt us is, Whether by the Scriptures, and principles of the Nonconformists, 1Separation from the Church of England be necessary or lawfull? Those that hold it lawfull to be present at the preaching of the Word, but not to partake in the prayers of the Congregations, nor to be present at the Sacraments there administred, I leave to their owne defence: The necessity or lawfullnesse of Separation is that which I deny.
- 1The state of the Question.
Neither is it here questioned, 1Whether the principles of the Nonconformists be true and justifiable, but whether the necessity or lawfulness of separation can truly, and justly, be inferred and concluded from them. This Position therefore I lay down, as directly contrary to the other; That separation from the prayers, Sacraments, and preaching of the Word of God in the congregations and assemblies of the Church of England, is unlawful by the Scriptures, & that whatsoever complaints (whether just or unjust) the Nonconformists, judicious, learned and holy, have made of the corruptions in our Church government, Ministry, Worship, Prayers, Administration of the Sacrament, and people, received, or permitted as external members, they do not infer, either in their judgements, or in truth, a necessity or lawfulness of Separation from our Churches, as no true Churches of Christ, our Ministry as false and Antichristian, our Worship as Idolatry.