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

M. 1. The Chancellors have their Commissions from the King, which the Bishops cannot alter. 2. If it be so it is the worse. 1. That the Bishops name should be abused to a Sentence, when he never heard or tried the Cause. If this be against the Bishops Will, it is a forgery; if he consent, it seems he ⟨p. 35⟩trusteth his Conscience in the Chancellors hands, and Excommunicateth all at a venture that the Chancellor Excommunicateth, though he know not whom nor why, which is against the Light of Nature, and the common Justice of the World. 2. And it is contrary to the nature of the Pastoral Office to execute it by men of another Calling: Either it is proper to Bishops or not; if not, Presbyters or Lay-men may use it; if yea, then none, may be deputed to use it, that are not Bishops. If the Keys and not the Sacraments may be used by Lay-men, then the use of the Keys is not proper to Pastors, but only Sacraments. But no man can give a just reason why Lay-men may not give the Sacraments as well as use the Keys. Yea indeed the Sacramental administration cannot be proper to the Pastoral Office if the Keys be not: For the •se of the Keys is to Judge who shall be admitted to Sacramental communion: and if only Delivering and not Judging to whom, be proper to the Pastor, then he is but a carrier or crier and Executioner of Lay-mens Judgment, perhaps lower than the Deacon. Barely to say over the words and do the action, is but an outward Ministration, and no act of Power at all.

M. 1. The Chancellors have their Commissions from the King, which the Bishops cannot alter. 2. If it be so it is the worse. 1. That the Bishops name should be abused to a Sentence, when he never heard or tryed the Cause. If this be against the Bishops Will, it is a forgery; if he consent, it seems he ⟨p. 35⟩trusteth his Conscience in the Chancellors hands, and Excommunicateth all at a venture that the Chancellor Excommunicateth, though he know not whom nor why, which is against the Light of Nature, and the common Justice of the World. 2. And it is contrary to the nature of the Pastoral Office to execute it by men of another Calling: Either it is proper to Bishops or not; if not, Presbyters or Lay-men may use it; if yea, then none, may be deputed to use it, that are not Bishops. If the Keys and not the Sacraments may be used by Lay-men, then the use of the Keys is not proper to Pastors, but only Sacraments. But no man can give a just reason why Lay-men may not give the Sacraments as well as use the Keys. Yea indeed the Sacramental administration cannot be proper to the Pastoral Office if the Keys be not: For the se of the Keys is to Judge who shall be admitted to Sacramental communion: and if only Delivering and not Iudging to whom, be proper to the Pastor, then he is but a carrier or cryer and Executioner of Lay-mens Judgment, perhaps lower than the Deacon. Barely to say over the words and do the action, is but an outward Ministration, and no act of Power at all.