Catholic communion defended against both extremes, and unnecessary division confuted in five parts ...…Catholick communion defended against both extreams, and unnecessary division confuted in five parts ...…

21. I have formerly told the world, That many of the most noted Nonconformists in London, met and concluded for communicating in the Parish-Churches, about 1664. And two things done by the Conformists stopped them: One was a storm then arising against those that could not do it, which they feared to seem to countenance by their compliance: And Plague and F•re interrupting the purposes of some. The Oxford Act of Confinement made it unpracticable; because, to be seen in a Church would have cast them six Months in the Goal with Malefactors.

21. I have formerly told the world, That many of the most noted Nonconformists in London, met and concluded for communicating in the Parish-Churches, about 1664. And two things done by the Conformists stopt them: One was a storm then arising against those that could not do it, which they feared to seem to countenance by their compliance: And Plague and F•re interrupting the purposes of some. The Oxford Act of Confinement made it unpracticable; because, to be seen in a Church would have cast them six Months in the Goal with Malefactors.

22. Being thus hindered and delayed, the King's Declaration after giving them liberty to have Assemblies otherwise, they were then kept from the Parish-Churches by their labours with their own •locks, as the Parish-Ministers be from hearing one another.

23. Some in the City, and more in the Countries, all this while went constantly to the Parish Churches before this liberty, and as oft as they could after, lest they should by their practice, draw the people to thnk that they took it for unlawful.