An Answer to Two Treatises of John Can, Chapter 1
CHAP. I.
THe Queſtion betwixt us is, Whether by the Scriptures, and principles of the Nonconformiſts, The ſtate of the Queſtion.Separation from the Church of England be neceſſary or lawfull? Thoſe that hold it lawfull to be preſent at the preaching of the Word, but not to partake in the prayers of the Congregations, nor to be preſent at the Sacraments there adminiſtred, I leave to their owne defence: The neceſſity or lawfullneſſe of Separation is that which I deny.
Neither is it here queſtioned, CAN. Neceſſit. of Separ. Epiſt. to the Reader.Whether the principles of the Nonconformists be true and juſtifiable, but whether the neceſſity or lawfulneſſe of ſeparation can truly, and justly, be inferred and concluded from them. This Poſition therefore I lay downe, as directly contrary to the other; That ſeparation from the prayers, Sacraments, and preaching of the Word of God in the congregations and aſſemblies of the Church of England, is unlawful by the Scriptures, & that whatſoever complaints (whether juſt or unjuſt) the Nonconformiſts, judicious, learned and holy, have made of the corruptions in our Church government, Miniſterie, Worſhip, Prayers, Adminiſtration of the Sacrament, and people, received, or permitted as externall members, they doe not inferre, either in their judgements, or in truth, a neceſſitie or lawfulneſſe of Separation from our Churches, as no true Churches of Chriſt, our Miniſterie as falſe and Antichriſtian, our Worſhip as Idolatry. And therefore, I ſhall ſhall hope, ſuch as have ſeparated unadviſedly, if men of tender hearts, they will repent of their raſhneſſe, ſeeing the grounds where upon they build are rotten, the building ruinous, and the practice directly tending to the ſcandall of Religion, and diſcomfort of their ſoules. And now I proceed in the feare of God, by the beames of Truth, to try and examine what is objected, to ſhew the neceſſitie of Separation from the Nonconformiſts principles.