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

M. 1. We do not question the duty of obeying the King and all his Officers, governing as Magistrates by the power of the Swords which the King may commit to them. If Bishops or Lay Chancellors be made Magistrates, we will obey them as such: And therefore when they summon us, we appear and answer, because the King authorizeth them. And many Non-conformists have defended the taking the Promise as supposing that the Word [Ordinary] signifieth only the Judge of a Court set up by the King as Supreme Governor by the Sword in matters and over persons Ecclesiastical as well as Civil, according to the true sense of the Oath of Supremacy. 2. We do not refuse to promise and swear due Obedience to such as are our Lawful Pastors, ruling the Church by the power of the Keys according to the Word of God: Though we think that requiring such Oaths is an irregularity in them, against the ancient Canons, and a far higher presumption than the Independents Covenant. 3. We do not deny a patient and quiet submission to unlawful ⟨p. 32⟩persons and acts of Government, not owning their sin our selves, and doing no evil at their command. But these are the things which we are not satisfied in. I. Obedience hath essential Relation to the Laws and Mandates of those that we obey: And the Canons of England are the Laws by which they openly profess to Rule the Church: And therefore they call it the Oath of Canonical Obedience, that is, of obeying the Church Government according to the Canons; And when we know the Canons before-hand, we know what Government and Obedience is meant. And we swear fraudulently if we take not the Oath in the sense of the Imposers: And they commonly tell us, that this is the meaning of [Due Obedience], and if Godly Admonitions, or [in licitis & honestis] be put in, that doth but suppose that Obedience according to the Canons is Godly and licitum & honestum, and not that we are left to choose which Canons we will obey. All Bishops I doubt not will stand to this Exposition of the sense. Now there are abundance of things in the Canons which we think to be greater sins than we think meet to call them. II. We know that the Rule of the Bishops is by Chancellors Courts and other such, where Lay-men exercise the Church Keys, by Decretive Excommunications and Absolutions:

M. 1. We do not question the duty of obeying the King and all his Officers, governing as Magistrates by the power of the Swords which the King may commit to them. If Bishops or Lay Chancellors be made Magistrates, we will obey them as such: And therefore when they summon us, we appear and answer, because the King authorizeth them. And many Non-conformists have defended the taking the Promise as supposing that the Word [Ordinary] signifieth only the Judge of a Court set up by the King as Supream Governor by the Sword in matters and over persons Ecclesiastical as well as Civil, according to the true sence of the Oath of Supremacy. 2. We do not refuse to promise and swear due Obedience to such as are our Lawful Pastors, ruling the Church by the power of the Keys according to the Word of God: Though we think that requiring such Oaths is an irregularity in them, against the ancient Canons, and a farr higher presumption than the Independents Covenant. 3. We do not deny a patient and quiet submission to unlawful