A30189:73
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.
An ignorant Minister is an Idol, having eyes when he seeth not, and so is a scandalous idle Minister, yea an Hypocrite, and hollow-hearted Minister, having only the outside of a Minister, but wanting the life and soul, the approbation and allowance of God. But the faithful do neither bow down unto an Idol, nor set up an Idol to themselves, who seek and desire the ordinances of grace from their hands, unto whom God in his Providence hath committed the dispensation of holy things, for the good of his people, though not for the profit of themselves. Who is blind, but my servant? to wit, Israel, which should have most light, because of my law: or deaf as my Messenger that I sent? The Priests and Levites whom I sent to teach the people. The Idol Shepherd, the Lord calleth his Shepherd, 1not because he doth the will of the Lord, but he is sent of God to the people, who by just means doth revenge the impiety of men. He entereth sinfully, that is never so well able to teach, if either he live profanely, or teach corruptly, or be altogether remiss in his office; when yet to hear him once being in office, and well gifted, was never deemed an humane invention. Sometimes it doth so fall out, that to avoid some great ⟨p. 8⟩hurt or danger, or for some other end, some things may lawfully and ordinarily be intended, which without such peculiar circumstances, whereby evil is separated from them, would be unlawful. And though it be unlawful to choose such a Minister, or to have private familiar society with such a scandalous person, yet it is lawful to join in the ordinances of grace, because God hath called us thereunto, and so ordained.
An ignorant Minister is an Idoll, having eyes when he seeth not, and so is a scandalous idle Minister, yea an Hypocrite, and hollow-hearted Minister, having only the outside of a Minister, but wanting the life and soule, the approbation and allowance of God. But the faithfull doe neither bow downe unto an Jdoll, nor set up an Idoll to themselves, who seeke and desire the ordinances of grace from their hands, unto whom God in his Providence hath committed the dispensation of holy things, for the good of his people, though not for the profit of themselves. Who is blinde, but my servant? to wit, Jsrael, which should have most light, because of my law: or deafe as my Messenger that I sent? The Priests and Levites whom I sent to teach the people. The Idoll Shepheard, the Lord calleth his Shepheard,