A30189:69
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.
When the Priests were dumb dogs, that could not bark, and greedy dogs, that could never have enough, was their Ministry true or false, were they qualified, as becomes the Ministers of the Lord of hosts or no? The strangers and uncircumcised, which were set to take the charge of the Lords Sanctuary; were they true Ministers, or false? When the Priests taught for hire, and the Prophets prophesied for money; when the prophets prophesied lies, and the Priests bare rule by their means; Was their Ministry true or false? Were the Sons of Eli true or false Ministers? qualified as becometh the servants of God, they were not, but the function which they executed, was of God. When the Priests bought and sold Doves in the Temple, or took upon them to provide Doves, or such like things for them that were to offer, was their Ministry, true or false? Did they that whereunto they were appointed of ⟨p. 6⟩God or no? 1When the Scribes and Pharisees corrupted the Law by false glosses, taught for doctrines mens precepts, made the Commandment of God of none effect by their traditions, shut up the Kingdom of heaven before men, neither going in themselves, nor suffering them that would, making those of their profession twofold more the children of hell than themselves: When they taught Justification by works, and perfect obedience to the whole law, and denied in Christ, both the Person and office of the Messiah, blaspheming him in his doctrine, as a deceiver of the people; 2in his life, as a glutton and wine-drinker; in his glorious miracles, as one that wrought them by the Devil; and when they hated to be reformed, was their Ministry true or false? were they called of God, or did they thrust in themselves before they were sent? If their Ministry was true, then an ignorant, Idol, profane, idle Ministry, which despiseth knowledge, opposeth Godliness, profaneth the holy things of God, corrupteth the Law, polluteth the worship, strengtheneth the hands of the wicked, and leadeth the blind out of the way, may be a true and lawful Ministry of God.
When the Priests were dumb dogs, that could not bark, and greedy dogs, that could never have enough, was their Ministerie true or false, were they qualified, as becomes the Ministers of the Lord of hoasts or no? The strangers and uncircumcised, which were set to take the charge of the Lords Sanctuary; were they true Ministers, or false? When the Priests taught for hire, and the Prophets prophesied for money; when the rophets prophesied lies, and the Priests bare rule by their means; Was their Ministery true or false? Were the Sonnes of Eli true or false Ministers? qualifyed as becommeth the servants of God, they were not, but the function which they executed, was of God. When the Priests bought and sold Doves in the Temple, or took upon them to provide Doves, or such like things for them that were to offer, was their Ministerie, true or false? Did they that whereunto they were appointed of