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

M. I would have the King and Kingdom (Church and State) secured from a Foreign Jurisdiction, of Pope or Prelates; and to that end, I would have Papists kept out of Government, Civil, Military, or Ecclesiastic; and I would wish that the King. 1. By the Unity of his Subjects; 2. By Navies and Military provision; 3. And by just Confederacies abroad, be still so strong as not to fear the force of Foreigners; and these things being secured, without fear of any mens censure, I say, 1. That I would have all Men used as Men, and all Peaceable-men as Peaceable, be they what they will. 2. I would have no hurt done to any Papist for his Religion, but Defensive; that is, such as is necessary to the foresaid Ends, viz. to ⟨p. 272⟩save King and Kingdom from a foreign Jurisdiction, and from Invasion, and to save the Souls of the People, from subversion by unreasonable liberty of Seducers. 3. I would not have punishments excessive, that shall drive multitudes into desperation: Lest undone desperate men be carried to Revenge, or to think Treason lawful, when they can no otherwise be saved from death and ruin. Man hath not a despotical power over all passion: And some passions do almost necessitate error of Judgment, or else sudden Action against Judgment. Take the most meek conscientious man, that knoweth the evil of Revenge, and try his patience by buffeting him, and it's two to one, but passion will make him strike you again. Much more if you buffet him twenty year every day, patience may be overcome at last: There is scarce any Creature, Beast, Bird, or Vermin, but will use all the resistance it can in case of hurt and fear of death. The Devil could say, Skin for skin, and all that a Man hath will he give for his Life. And can you think that Prince or Kingdom is in safety, that shall destinate to destruction so great a number and of such quality, as are all the Papists, Infidels, Jews, Anabaptists, Separatists, Independents, Presbyterians, and Episcopal Non-conformists, as are in England? Though I think the latter sort would suffer death rather than be disloyal; I am sure Rulers and Adversaries think not so, who accuse them of intolerable disloyalty. And they that think so ill of them will expect ill at their hands. It's true, that the worse men are and their principles, the more need there is of suppressing them.

M. I would have the King and Kingdom (Church and State) secured from a Foreign Iurisdiction, of Pope or Prelates; and to that end, I would have Papists kept out of Government, Civil, Military, or Ecclesiastick; and I would wish that the King. 1. By the Vnity of his Subjects; 2. By Navies and Military provision; 3. And by just Confederacies abroad, be still so strong as not to fear the force of Foreigners; and these things being secured, without fear of any mens censure, I say, 1. That I would have all Men used as Men, and all Peaceable-men as Peaceable, be they what they will. 2. I would have no hurt done to any Papist for his Religion, but Defensive; that is, such as is necessary to the forsaid Ends, viz. to