A30189:609
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 5 › ANSWER.Chapter 4 › Section 5 › 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.
Fifthly, No society is the Church of Christ, which retaineth not the true worship of God, but in the true Church of God, his pure worship may be stained with rites and ceremonies, which might well be spared, and are justly disliked. Thus both Conformists and Nonconformists, and all other sorts and sects of men. And thus in the Church of England, the true worship of God is for substance rightly maintained, though the Nonconformists dislike, and the Conformists groan under some ceremonies not abandoned, The only knot here to be unloosed again is your slander against the Nonconformists, in that you charge them to say, that the Church of England doth not retain the true worship of God.
Fifthly, No societie is the Church of Christ, which retaineth not the true worship of God, but in the true Church of God, his pure worship may be stained with rites and ceremonies, which might well be spared, and are justly disliked. Thus both Conformists and Nonconformists, and all other sorts and sects of men. And thus in the Church of England, the true worship of God is for substance rightly maintained, though the Nonconformists dislike, and the Conformists groane under some ceremonies not abandoned, The onely knot here to be unloosed againe is your slander against the Nonconformists, in that you charge them to say, that the Church of England doth not retaine the true worship of God.
And now I shall desire you calmly to consider how according to your principles you can untie a knot or two, if they should be knit for you in this wise.
And now I shall desire you calmely to consider how according to your principles you can untie a knot or two, if they should be knit for you in this wise.
First, He is no true Pastor of Jesus Christ, who grossly perverteth the Scripture, falsifieth Authors, deceiveth with equivocations, condemneth the true worship of God as pernicious idolatry, and the