The English nonconformity as under King Charles II and King James II truly stated…

L. I confess you convince me, that know what most Patrons in England are, that it is unfit that all the Peoples Souls should be so far at the mercy of those Patrons, that seem to care but little for ⟨p. 259⟩their own, as that no man must have any other or better Pastor than they will choose for him; and that all mans duty, to care for his Salvation, and all the judgment of the Church of Christ, from the Apostles days, till a few hundred years ago, should wholly give place to the pretended right of any fellow that can buy an Advowso• or Presentation: And it were to be wished that it were wholly taken from them, and left to the Clergy and People alone; the Magistrate being Judge whom he will Approve or Tolerate. But there is no hope that Patrons will let go their supposed right, if an Angel from Heaven should speak against it; but in all reason they should grant the Communicants that small consequent Vote of Consent or Dissent, that you pleaded for; but if they will not do that, they should give them leave to go to another Parish, or to choose a Tolerated Pastor whom they will maintain. But men are so set on their own ways, that they banish all sense of others case, and of what conduceth to the common good.

L. I confess you convince me, that know what most Patrons in England are, that it is unfit that all the Peoples Souls should be so far at the mercy of those Patrons, that seem to care but little for ⟨p. 259⟩their own, as that no man must have any other or better Pastor than they will choose for him; and that all mans duty, to care for his Salvation, and all the judgment of the Church of Christ, from the Apostles dayes, till a few hundred years agoe, should wholly give place to the pretended right of any fellow that can buy an Advowso• or Presentation: And it were to be wisht that it were wholly taken from them, and left to the Clergy and People alone; the Magistrate being Iudge whom he will Approve or Tolerate. But there is no hope that Patrons will let go their supposed right, if an Angel from Heaven should speak against it; but in all reason they should grant the Communicants that small consequent Vote of Consent or Dissent, that you pleaded for; but if they will not do that, they should give them leave to go to another Parish, or to choose a Tolerated Pastor whom they will maintain. But men are so set on their own ways, that they banish all sense of others case, and of what conduceth to the common good.