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

L. By this talk you seem to intimate, that the people must not be constrained to obey in Circumstantials or Little things, because they may to them be doubtful; and what worship of God can you perform without such little Circumstances?

M. Little or Great, God in mercy hath made all Necessary things intelligible and plain: It is the Unnecessary things that are most controvertible and doubtful. There are many Circumstances that are so Necessary to actions, that they cannot without them be performed; e. g. He that will Preach, must open his mouth; he must speak audibly, he must use a Language understood, he must have some capable Place, and convenient Time; Psalms must be sung in some Tune, &c. some Clothing, some posture of Body must be used; and all men know that to choose these according to the general Rules of Charity, Edification, Order, and Decency, belongs to the Guides of the Assemblies. And where do you see any great division about any such things as these; except in cases of accidental scandal? And if any should be so childish or ignorant, as to think it unlawful; e. g. to be Uncovered, or to Kneel at Prayer; due Instruction, and gentle Rebuke may easily cure such weakness, and is meeter than an extirpation. If any were so silly that they scrupled; e. g. singing our Metre or Tunes of David's Psalms, but are only for the Cathedral singing of the Prose; it's fitter to let them be silent, or let them go only to Cathedrals, than to Excommunicate or Destroy them; and if any be so weak, that they think a Lawful Form or Gesture unlawful, it's fitter, if they cannot be convinced, to let them be silent, or Worship God among themselves in another Form or Gesture, than to Excommunicate or Extirpate them. ⟨p. 270⟩But what are these easy intelligible Circumstances to all the Ceremonies unnecessary even in genere? What are they to the Vows of God-fathers without the Parents, or to the dedicating Symbol of the Cross, or to adhering to a bare Reader, when the next Parish hath an able Teacher whom the ignorant have great need to be instructed by; to say no more now of all the Oaths, Declarations, Subscriptions, Covenants, and Professions required of Ministers? I again say therefore, if you extirpate all Subjects that cannot unite with you in all things required by the Rubrics and Canons, you will wrong the King by weakening his Kingdom, and robbing him of more of his Subjects, than He or the Welfare of the Land can spare.