The defence of the nonconformists plea for peace, or, An account of the matter…

If you ask me, How I would have all this remedied; I have oft enough answered it, and will not here repeat it. Only I would have a Minister have some such freedom as a School-master or Philosopher hath in his School; and not a mere slave or Agent of others, to take in and use, and exclude and say, as strangers to the Flock command him, against his conscience and knowledge of the Case; till it be proved, that it shall justify him at judgment for all such actions, to say, The Law, Bishop or Chancellor commanded me.

If you ask me, How I would have all this remedied; I have oft enough answered it, and will not here repeat it. Only I would have a Minister have some such freedom as a School-master or Philosopher hath in his School; and not a meer slave or Agent of others, to take in and use, and exclude and say, as strangers to the Flock command him, against his conscience and knowledge of the Case; till it be proved, that it shall justifie him at judgment for all such actions, to say, The Law, Bishop or Chancellor commanded me.

§ 2. You tell us as by your many Years Experience, that private repelling by Counsel and Persuasion, may serve with most. And 1. I wonder that you that had but a small Country Chapel and no Church at all, where near Neighbours might easily be spoken with, should talk of your Experience as an argument against that which is of notorious matter of Fact. 1. Show me where Law, Canon, or Rubric, giveth power to the Priest to refuse a Parishioner that saith, [I take you not for my Pastor, nor to have any authority over me, but as the Bishop's Curate, to do what the Law bids you, and I will not speak with you.] 2. Do you not now dwell in London? where Parishes are so great that the Parson can do no such thing on one of a Multitude, nor doth so much as know them? And know you not that de facto, there are Multitudes that will refuse, and scorn to give you any account, or hear you, or come to you, or admit you to any such discourse with them? I had the most obedient tractable People to deal with that ever I knew: And yet I had some that attempted by present violence to Murder me, for Admonishing them, and forbidding them the Sacrament; and many that would give me no other account of themselves, but demand of me to deliver them the Sacrament as the Canon and Liturgy order it, whenever they appear at Church and require it: Hundreds and Thousands will stoop to no other Terms in the great Parishes of England.