CAN. Stay. Sec. 3. pag. 18.: An answer to two treatises of Mr. John Can, the leader of… by John Ball | AskReformation

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:199p. 58–59

As for the high places of which we read often in Scripture, it was lawful for the Fathers of old to offer Sacrifices upon them, when it was not precisely commanded, but only the place for sacrifice undetermined. But after that God ⟨p. 59⟩had chosen, determined, and appropriated a peculiar place for sacrifice where it was to be offered and not else where, ¹then it was a great sin for them without extraordinary dispen ation or commandment to offer in those places, where their godly Ancestors had truly worshipped before, not because they had no commandment so to do (for that may be said of their Ancestors, they had no commandment to offer there) but because it was expressly forbidden. And here you may see how the first part of the sentence doth cross the later: For if godly Ancestors did truly worship God in the high places, when they were not commanded, then the Israelites did not sin grievously in carrying their oblations thither, because it was not commanded. What moved you so to write, and to allege Authors, as if they affirmed the same, I leave it to your conscience to judge. This is sure, neither Scripture nor Author cited, doth speak with you in that matter, but plainly profess, that it was unlawful, because it was expressly forbidden. That exercise (saith Zanchie) did seem praiseworthy to the Israelites, and yet it is to play the harlot: Why? because it is sacrilege to depart from the Word of the Lord. But the Word of the Lord had commanded, that they should worship the Lord only at Jerusalem, and by such rites as he had instituted.

As for the high places of which wee read often in Scripture, it was lawfull for the Fathers of old to offer Sacrifices upon them, when it was not precisely commanded, but only the place for sacrifice undetermined. But after that God ⟨p. 59⟩had chosen, dete•mined, and appropriated a peculiar place for sacrifice where it was to be offered and not else where, ¹then it was a great sinne for them without extraordinary dispen ation or commandement to offer in those places, where their godly Ancestors had truly worshiped before, not because they had no commandement so to do (for that may be said of their Ancestors, they had no commandement to offer there) but because it was expresly forbidden. And here you may see how the first part of the sentence doth crosse the later: For if godly Ancestors did truly worship God in the high places, when they were not commanded, then the Israelites did not finne grievously in carrying their oblations thither, because it was not commanded. What moved you so to write, and to alledge Authors, as if they affirmed the same, I leave it to your conscience to judge. This is sure, neither Scripture nor Author cited, doth speake with you in that matter, but plainly professe, that it was unlawfull, because it was expresly forbidden. That exercise (saith Zanchie) did seeme praiseworthy to the Israelites, and yet it is to play the harlot: Why? because it is sacriledge to depart from the Word of the Lord. But the Word of the Lord had commanded, that they should worship the Lord only at Ierusalem, and by such rites as hee had instituted.

1Alsted praecog lib. 2. pag. 369. Tert de dololat. It is no hurt, that the same God by his law forbade a similitude to be made, and by an extraordinary precept commanded the similitude of the brazen serpent to be made; which may be applied to this purpose, with a little variation. Deut. 12.13 . & 14.23. 1 Chr. 17.6. 2 Chron. 6.6. Psal. 78.68. Rivet. in Hos. 4.13. Colendo verum Deum in collibus est in exce•sis contra Dei legem et rium praeseripium. Zanch. in Hos. 4.13 Laudabile exercitua illud •sraelitis videbatur, & tamen est scortari. Quare? quia sacrilegium e• discedere a verbe Domini. Verbuma. Domini jusserat ut taxtum Harosolymis, & ritibu• a Den irstitutis, sinc sa••• Deum coleren•. See. lun. Annot. in 1. Reg. 33. & 2 Reg. 22.4. 1 King. 15.12, 14. King. 22.43. 2 King. 12. […] King 25.4. 2 King. 15.35. Bilson Christ subject, part 4. pag. 340. Gods act […] no warrant for you to break his saw. By his law he restraineth you not humselfe from the making of any such similitudes. 2 Kings 4.15.19.Alsted praecog lib. 2. pag. 369. Tert de dololat. It is no hurt, that the same God by his lavv forbad a similitude to be made, and by an extraordinary precept cō manded the similitude of the brazen serpent to bee made; which may be applyed to this purpose, with a little variation. Deut. 12.13 . & 14.23.

:201p. 59–60

As for the ten Tribes who departed from the house of David, they shined grievously, in that they worshipped the Calves, and that in a place of worship elected of themselves, contrary to the word of God, leaving and forsaking that place which the Lord bad chosen to himself. They professed the true God, and turned not aside to the gods of the Heathen, ⟨p. 60⟩and in that respect are called the house and family of the Lord: ¹But as they sacrificed at Bethel, and committed Idolatry in worshipping the Calves, so their service was abominable, and their Priesthood appointed for that service, a mere nullity and humane device.

As for the ten Tribes who departed from the house of David, they shined grievously, in that they worshipped the Calves, and that in a place of worship elected of themselves, contrary to the word of God, leaving and forsaking that place which the Lord bad chosen to himselfe. They professed the true God, and turned not aside to the gods of the Heathen, ⟨p. 60⟩and in that respect are called the house and family of the Lord: ¹But as they sacrificed at Bethel, and committed Idolatry in worshipping the Calves, so their service was abominable, and their Priesthood appointed for that service, a meer nullitie and humane device.

12 King. 10.16.31 Hos. 9 15. 1 King 12.31. Lev. 17.7. Hebr. Sep. [Greek or Hebrew]. Jun. demonibus. Deu. 32.17. 1 Cor. 10.10. Ex. 32.1.8 Acts 7.41. 1 Cor. 10.7. 1 King. 12.28 . and 14.9. 2 Chron. 11.15. Heb. Sept. [Greek or Hebrew]. See Ainsw. Annot. in Lev. 17.7. et Jun. ibid. Rainold de Idolola. l. 2. c. 3. Isa. 44. Qu. Co. pag. 61. CAN Sta. §. 3 pag. 18. Babingt. in Lev. 17. See Jun. in Lev. 17.3. 4, 11.2 King. 10.16.31 Hos. 9 15. 1 King 12.31. Lev. 17.7. Hebr. Sep. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Iun. demonibus. Deu. 32.17. 1 Cor. 10.10. Ex. 32.1.8 Acts 7.41. 1 Cor. 10.7. 1 King. 12.28 . and 14.9. 2 Chron. 11.15. Heb. Sept. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. See Ainsw. Annot. in Lev. 17.7. et Iun. ibid. Rainold de Idolola. l. 2. c. 3. Isa. 44. Qu. Co. pag. 61. CAN Sta. §. 3 pag. 18. Babingt. in Lev. 17. See Iun. in Lev. 17.3. 4, 11.

:202p. 60

Thus all the Jews and Gentiles are said to sacrifice unto Devils, who sacrificed in such sort and place as God had forbidden, especially it they sacrificed unto Idols, though in them they sacrificed unto the true God in their imagination, as the Israelites had done when they made the golden Calf, and sacrificed unto it: and Jeroboam's Idols are called Devils, and he is said to make Priests for the high places and for Devils. Further this Ordinance of God was typical, and did shadow forth Christ, as the learned do observe, and not without ground and warrant. All Altars, Sacrifices, Priests, and the Temple it self where the Altar stood, were but types and shadows of Christ. You your self cite out of Bishop Babington, that hereby was signified, that only in the Church by faith in the chief high Priest Christ Jesus, sacrifice and service accepted of God, is, and can be offered and done, and no where else. By the erudiments (saith another) Christ was shadowed among the Jews, and expiation made on the cross by his blood.

Thus all the Jewes and Gentiles are said to sacrifice unto Divels, who sacrificed in such sort and place as God had forbidden, especially it they sacrificed unto Idols, though in them they sacrificed unto the true God in their imagination, as the Israelites had done when they made the golden Calse, and sacrificed unto it: and Ieroboams Idols are called Divels, and he is said to make Priests for the high places and for Divels. Further this Ordinance of God was typicall, and did shadow forth Christ, as the learned do observe, and not without ground and warrant. All Altars, Sacrifices, Priests, and the Temple it selfe where the Altar stood, were but types and shadowes of Christ. You your selfe cite out of Bishop Babington, that hereby was signified, that only in the Church by faith in the chiefe high Priest Christ Jesus, sacrifice and service accepted of God, is, and can be offered and done, and no where els. By the erudiments (saith another) Christ was shadowed among the Jewes, and expiation made on the crosse by his blood.

:203p. 60–61

From hence briefly let these things be observed. 1 That the Jews sinned by sacrificing in the high places, and the Israelites at Dan and Bethel, because God had forbidden it expressly, but against communicating in our assemblies, no such prohibition can be brought forth, which haply might be the reason, why you had rather say, because they had no divine precept for it, than because it was forbidden, which yet you know to be most certain. 2 Though it be not lawful to communicate with the people of God in their sins, yet we may partake in the ordinances of worship, with such as offend grievously in the worship of God, as the Prophets and faithful, communicated in the ordinances of God at Jerusalem, with them that sacrificed upon the high places. 3. That in Idolatrous and false Churches, that which is merely of men is vain and fruitless, and a mere nullity, but if among them, something which is of God remain, it is not to be esteemed a thing of nought. 4 We must neither forsake all societies, wherein we espy many things repugnant to the ⟨p. 61⟩Word of God, nor cast off every thing in those societies, wherewith we must not hold communion, as false, vain and ineffectual. In Idolatrous societies, ¹there may be some truth which I must not cast away, though I must not hold society in their Idolatry. In the true Churches of Christ, there may be diverse errors and abuses, wherewith I must not communicate, though I must live and hold fellowship in the society.

From hence briefly let these things be observed. 1 That the Jewes sinned by facrificing in the high places, and the Israelites at Dan and Bethel, because God had forbidden it expresly, but against communicating in our assemblies, no such prohibition can be brought forth, which haply might bee the reason, why you had rather say, because they had no divine precept for it, than because it was forbidden, which yet you know to bee most certaine. 2 Though it bee not lawfull to communicate with the people of God in their sins, yet wee may partake in the ordinances of worship, with such as offend grievously in the worship of God, as the Prophets and faithfull, communicated in the ordinances of God at Jerusalem, with them that sacrificed upon the high places. 3. That in Idolatrous and false Churches, that which is meerely of men is vaine and fruitlesse, and a meere nullitie, but if among them, something which is of God remaine, it is not to bee esteemed a thing of nought. 4 Wee must neither forsake all societies, wherein wee espie many things repugnant to the ⟨p. 61⟩Word of God, nor cast off every thing in those societies, wherewith we must not hold communion, as false, vaine and ineffectuall. In Idolatrous societies, ¹there may be some truth which I must not cast away, though I must not hold society in their Idolatry. In the true Churches of Christ, there may be diverse errors and abuses, wherewith I must not communicate, though I must live and hold fellowship in the society.

1Cyp. lib. 1. c. 4. The people must not partake with the sacrifice of a sacrilegious Priest.