A30189:56
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.
SEC. I.
TO Communicate in a false Ministry, 1is certainly a breach of the Second Commandment; For what do they, but indeed set up an Idol, yea and bow down unto it, who serve God in, and by a devised and usurped Ministry. In Song 1.7, 8. The faithful entreat Christ to be showed where he by his Ministry, with his Spirit, Word, Seals, Censures, &c. feedeth his Flock, that there they might place themselves for Instruction and Government, and not turn aside to the flocks of his companions, that is, the congregations of false Christs, and false Prophets, which came in his Name, saying, I am Christ, and deceive many. Again, Ephraim is joined to Idols; What were they? among others, they were Priests which Jeroboam ordained for the high Places: What follows? let him alone, that is, have no communion with him, either in his false Ministry, or other Idolatry. Often do the Prophets, Christ, and his Apostles, forbid men to hear those, which thrust themselves into ministerial offices, not being sent of God, and from the Church. To communicate in a false ministry, is to do a vain worship; and therefore unacceptable altogether unto the Lord. In this men do abet the party in his sin, and so make it their own by imputation, and inwrap themselves in the same guilt with the offender. God hath promised no blessing to his Word, but in his own Ordinance, though I confess he may, yea, and doth grant oft times that, through his infinite Goodness, which no man can challenge by an ordinary promise. To do otherwise, is to rebel grievously against the Lord, and to uphold, what in us lieth, that which the Lord will consume: therefore, as no good Subject should assist or communicate with any person in the ⟨p. 3⟩administration of civill justice to the Kings Subjects (no although he administer the same never so legally, justly, impartially) except the same person had a commission from the King so to do: so neither ought the Subjects of Christs Kingdom,