A30189:89
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.
The sheep of Christ hear his voice, but will not hear the voice of a stranger? 1But who is that stranger whom the sheep will not hear? From whom they fly both in mind and body, with whom they must hold no Communion, 2inward or outward? Thus far you extend the words of our Saviour, and unless they be so meant, they conclude not what you purpose. Is every unlawful Minister this stranger? 3Is every unlearned, scandalous, corrupt Minister this stranger? Is every one whom Christ calleth a thief and a robber, who enters not in by the door, but climbs up some other way, this stranger? Is every one that smiteth, but feedeth not the flock; that maketh sad the heart of the Godly, strengtheneth the hands of the wicked, mingleth the Truth of God with his own dreams, this stranger? If these be not strangers meant by Christ, much less the painful, godly, sincere Pastor, who feedeth the flock with sound and wholesome food, and leadeth them unto the waters of life? And then this passage is impertinently alleged. But all these cannot be meant according to your interpretation, for then absolutely, all communicating with them in the Ordinances of God is not forbidden, but to receive their doctrine, embrace their errors, or follow their manners, which was evermore unlawful.
The sheep of Christ heare his voice, but will not heare the voice of a stranger? 1But who is that stranger whom the sheep will not heare? From whom they flie both in minde and body, with whom they must hold no Communion, 2inward or outward? Thus farre you extend the words of our Saviour, and unlesse they be so meant, they conclude not what you purpose. Is every unlawfull Minister this stranger? 3Is every unlearned, scandalous, corrupt Minister this stranger? Is every one whom Christ calleth a thiefe and a robber, who enters not in by the dore, but climbes up some other way, this stranger? Is every one that smiteth, but feedeth not the flock; that maketh sad the heart of the Godly, strengtheneth the hands of the wicked, mingleth the Truth of God with his owne dreames, this stranger? If these be not strangers meant by Christ, much lesse the painfull, godly, sincere Pastor, who feedeth the flock with sound and wholsome foode, and leadeth them unto the waters of life? And then this passage is impertinently alledged. But all these cannot be meant according to your interpretation, for then absolutely, all communicating with them in the Ordinances of God is not forbidden, but to receive their doctrine, embrace their errours, or follow their manners, which was evermore unlawfull.