A30189:554
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 4 › Section 2 › ANSWER.Chapter 4 › Section 2 › 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.
It is to as little purpose, to speak of the Church in Paradise in the state of innocency: For the Church understood in this present business, consists of men considered in the estate, which they now have promised by God being made man: or man fallen by sin and restored by Christ, who too•e them by the hand and lifted them up. That is properly the Church, which was gathered after man fallen, and is restored in Christ, which as it is visible consisteth of good and bad, as you say. But the Church in the state of innocency, consisted of such only as were created of God, perfectly holy, as befitted such creatures, until by transgression they fell from their integrity. The state of the Church which we must enquire into, is that which God hath gathered, planted, constituted, preserved, continued and propagated since the fall of man.
It is to as little purpose, to speake of the Church in Paradise in the state of innocency: For the Church understood in this pr•sent businesse, consists of men considered in the estate, which they now have promised by God being made man: or man fallen by sinne and restored by Christ, who too•e them by the hand and lifted them up. That is properly the Church, which was gathered after man fallen, and is restored in Christ, which as it is visible consisteth of good and bad, as you say. But the Church in the state of innocency, consisted of such onely as were created of God, perfectly holy, as befitted such creatures, untill by transgression they fell from their integritie. The state of the Church which we must enquire into, is that which God hath gathered, planted, constituted, preserved, continued and propagated since the fall of man.
After the Fall, God entered into Covenant with our first Parents, Adam and Eve, who received the promise, and were partakers of the good things promised. Their seed also was within the Covenant, until they did discommon themselves; and so Cain and Abel as members of the visible Church offered Sacrifice: In phrase of Scripture therefore Cain was a Saint in profession; but whether he had given testimony of sound and true holiness, so far as man could judge, is more than can be proved.