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

2. And you will be tempted to turn your thoughts too partially, to justify what once you have so publicly said, and so to run further into the Extreme. But my persuasion of your great sincerity, maketh me hope that you will overcome ⟨p. 125⟩the temptation which you have chosen.

2. And you will be tempted to turn your thoughts too partially, to justifie what once you have so publickly said, and so to run further into the Extream. But my persuasion of your great sincerity, maketh me hope that you will overcome ⟨p. 125⟩the temptation which you have chosen.

I. I thought that the word [Use of all] did much aggravate, and not extenuate the burden of the Declaration, as added to Assent. But to them that thought otherwise, I thought that when both Lords and Commons at a Conference upon Reasons given, had rejected that Exposition which confineth the sense of the words to [Use,] it had been a more satisfactory notice of the Law-givers sense, than either your private Conceit, or any Bishops Exposition could be. But you tell us, That this Conference was no Law, or repeal of the Law.

Ans. Impertinent! It is an Exposition of the meaning of the Law-makers only, that we are enquiring of, and not the repealing or making of a Law. It is the Law-makers part to be the public obliging Interpreters of the Law to the whole Kingdom. We are enquiring in point of Conscience, how we must understand them: And you will not believe them it seems, unless they make a new Law, to tell you the sense of the old one.

Ans. Impertinent! It is an Exposition of the meaning of the Law-makers only, that we are enquiring of, and not the repealing or making of a Law. It is the Law-makers part to be the publick obliging Interpreters of the Law to the whole Kingdom. We are enquiring in point of Conscience, how we must understand them: And you will not believe them it seems, unless they make a new Law, to tell you the sense of the old one.