A30189:569
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.
The means whereby men were brought to the knowledge of Christ were divers. Some were won by the preaching of the Word, others, by private teaching, conference, admonition, the constancy of the Saints in suffering, and the fame and report of the great things which the Lord was pleased to work by his people, as Rahab was converted by the fame of the great things which the Lord had wrought for Israel. Thus the Country of the uIberians was converted by a captive woman, who after she had instructed the King and the Queen, they both became Teachers of the Gospel to the people. Theridates is reported to be called to the Christian Religion, by a wwonderful and divine vision, which appeared ⟨p. 61⟩about his house, and by his Edict he commanded all his Subjects, that they should addict themselves to the faith of Christ. The Persians were brought to the faith by the conference which they had with the Oswenians, and Armenians. Origen when yet he was not allowed for a Minister by the Church, did by the blessing of God, turn many to the faith, who gave testimony thereunto, by the loss of their lives. He preached also publicly by the consent of the Church-Governors, when he was not made Minister, which xAlexander Bishop of Jerusalem, and Theoctistus, Bishop of Caesarea, defend against Demetrius; by the like examples of Eusebius, Paulinus, and Theodorus, and as they add it is likely the same was done in other places. yHence we may perceive, whom the Church both in the first planting, and reforming of Religion, judged to be Saints, who were to be received into society; wherein we are further to note, If ought were done amiss, in this or that particular circumstance, it did not nullify the work, or reformation.
The meanes whereby men were brought to the knowledge of Christ were divers. Some were wonne by the preaching of the Word, others, by private teaching, conference, admonition, the constancy of the Saints in suffering, and the fame and report of the great things which the Lord was pleased to worke by his people, as Rahab was converted by the fame of the great things which the Lord had wrought for Israell. Thus the Countrey of the