A30189:555
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.
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. 1The Scripture saith plainly, He was of that wicked one, and therefore slew his brother. And if no man suddenly become desperately wicked, it is probable Cain had given no great signs of piety in former times. Afterwards many and great corruptions came into the Church, when the sons of God took unto them wives of the daughters of men, 2whom they would: and it is strange to imagine all the members of the visible Church in those times to be visible Saints in conformity, 3so far as man can judge. The Church of God continued in the family of Noah, whereof Ham remained a member, after the sentence denounced against Canaan: In this Church therefore all visible members, were not visible Saints, so far as man can judge. 4The world after the Deluge was replenished by the sons of Noah, and the Church of God was conserved in their families, perhaps in the family of Ham, and Canaan his youngest son, at least for a time. 5For it is probable that Melchizedek, King of Salem, was some King ⟨p. 53⟩of Canaan in stock diver from the Hebi•wes, of the posterity of Canaan, who planted in those parts, whom God did preserve in the midst of an ungodly people. And the promise of God made to the posterity of Sh••, and so of Abraham; did not exclude all other familie• from communion of piety and godliness.