A30189:593
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 4 › ANSWER.Chapter 4 › Section 4 › 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.
ANSWER.
ANSVVER.
You may easily bring heaps of testimonies for that which these Authors affirm. For I suppose there is not, 1nor ever was, godly, orthodox Divine, of another judgement. But that which they say, and you maintain, are incompatible. Their Assertion is taught in Scripture, professed by the godly learned in all ages, and is most evident to right reason, illuminated by faith. But that which you contend for, is neither taught in Scripture, nor confirmed by reason, or professed by godly and learned Authors, ancient or modern, of one sort or other, parties excepted. For it is one thing to say, the Church is a society of faithful people, joining together in the ordinances of worship: Another, that it is no Church ⟨p. 74⟩where the ignorant or profane are tolerated. The first of these is affirmed: The latter is that which you must prove out of those Writers (which you can never do) or else you abuse both your self and them. Order is requisite in every administration of the Church, 2as the Apostle teacheth, and chiefly in the collection thereof, you say. But the want of order in every point requisite, either in the collection or government of the Church, doth not make it no Church. You know it is an usual received distinction, that hypocrites and ungodly men are in the Church, but not of the Church. And if at any time you read that notorious offenders are neither of the Church, 3nor in the Church; The same Author hath explained himself, that when he saith, There be no known Drunkards or Whoremongers in the Church, he speaks of that which should be: 4As when Paul saith, That the Church of God hath no custom to contend,