A30189:85
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.
It is well known, many errors and superstitions crept into the Church, immediately after the Apostles death, and the Pastors had their hands deep in the maintenance of them. What one saith of Chrysostom (as you cite him) may be said of others before and after him. He was not without his faults, His golden mouth, wherein he passed others, sometime had leaden words, which yielded to the error and abuse of others. I am not ignorant, that in his days many evil customs were crept into the Church, which in his works he reproveth not. And so much the aforesaid Author had expressed a little before; There is not any of them (saith he) that the world doth most wonder at, but have had their affections, nor I think, that you (adversaries to us and to the Truth) will in every respect admit, all that any one of the Fathers wrote. My self were able from the very first after the Apostles times, to run them over all, and straitly examining their words and assertions find imperfections in all: and thus far the Author.
It is well knowne, many errours and superstitions crept into the Church, immediately after the Apostles death, and the Pastors had their hands deep in the maintenance of them. What one saith of Chrysostome (as you cite him) may be said of others before and after him. He was not without his faults, His golden mouth, wherein he passed others, sometime had leaden words, which yeelded to the errour and abuse of others. I am not ignorant, that in his daies many evill customes were crept into the Church, which in his workes he reproveth not. And so much the aforesaid Author had expressed a little before; There is not any of them (saith hee) that the world doth most wonder at, but have had their affections, nor I thinke, that you (adversaries to us and to the Truth) will in every respect admit, all that any one of the Fathers wrote. My selfe were able from the very first after the Apostles times, to run them over all, and straitly examining their words and assertions finde imperfections in all: and thus farre the Authour.
What then, must the Faithful disclaim them all as false Prophets, and Adulteresses, and shun all Communion and fellowship with them in the worship of God? If boisterous zeal did not blind mens eyes, I should wonder, if you be not astonished