A30189:628
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 5 › Section 1 › ANSWER.Chapter 5 › Section 1 › 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.
First then here it is to be noted, that the Officers of the Church are not so distinguished by heir special limits and ⟨p. 86⟩bounds, but the superior may do the office of the rest, if necessity require. As if the society be small, meet Officers cannot be had, or be wanting for a time, or taken away by death, The Pastor may supply the room of the Teacher, Elder, or Deacon, that is, he may teach, watch over the manners of the people, and take special care of the poor, as the Apostles did for a time.
First then here it is to be noted, that the Officers of the Church are not so distinguished by heir speciall limits and ⟨p. 86⟩bounds, but the superiour may doe the office of the rest, if necessitie require. As if the societie be small, meet Officers cannot be had, or be wanting for a time, or taken away by death, The Pastour may supply the roome of the Teacher, Elder, or Deacon, that is, he may teach, watch over the manners of the people, and take speciall care of the poore, as the Apostles did for a time.
Secondly, If the Pastor be aged, weak, sickly, unable to bear the burden of his charge alone, he may take unto him, with consent of the society and college Ecclesiastical, Assisters or Helpers; 1Ut tam praesentes in urbe sublevarentur, quam ut absentibus ipsis, Ecclesiae pastoribus destituta non esset, delegerunt (scil. Apostoli) sibi coadjutores: Quod nominatim ex Epiphanio heres. 227. apparet. Tales fuerunt hi tres, Clemens, Linus, Cletus, Aut, ut noster Author ait, Anacletus. So Maximus helped Macarius until his death; and Augustine Valerius. And if the Pastor be careless or negligent, it is lawful for the people to provide for themselves, by the best means that they can, or God is pleased to afford unto them, that they might be taught and instructed in the ways of holiness.