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

M. 1. I shall prove that that is not true. 2. That if it were true it no whit amends the matter, nor maketh it lawful to us. I. It is not true: For. 1. The words of the declaration are as expressly universal as man can speak: And the foregoing words [to the use] do speak but define, and the words of the Declaration de mediis: And all Lawyers agree that when the title of a Law expresseth the End, that limiteth not the sense of the words of the Law, because the Means may be larger than the End. As the Oxford Act of Confinement is in the title to keep Nonconformists from Corporations; And yet Lawyers resolve that it extendeth also to Conformists, if one of them should but once preach in a Conventicle. The Parliament and Prelates thought that the way to secure the Use, was to oblige them to Assent and Consent to all in the Book contained and prescribed: 1. Therefore they tie all to declare in that same form of words, ⟨p. 45⟩and to add no other, least they should make any exposition that limits them. 2. And the word Assent signifieth an Act of the understanding, which must have Truth for its object. 3. And it is after expressed by the word [Approbation] whereas a man may use that which he doth not approve of. 2. Oaths, Covenants and Professions must be taken in the most usual proper sense, unless another be expressed to be the Imposers meaning; which is not here done, and the words are most universal and without exception. 3. And to put all out of doubt, the Parliament expounded themselves. 1. At the making of the Act, this was debated, and reasons given against the limited expressions, which prevailed. 2. Since then a new Act against Conventicles being made, it was moved in the Lords House, that seeing Non-conformists were thus far forbidden private worship, they should be so far invited to Conformity, as that a Proviso might be added to this Act, that the Declaration in the Act of Uniformity should be understood to oblige men but to the Use of the things required: and the Commons rejecting that Proviso, it came to a debate or conference between the two Houses, where the Commons gave their reasons against that sense and proviso: In which the Lords acquiesced. Though I was not present, the Parliament-men that were, reported this, and I never met with man that contradicted it, or questioned the truth of it. II. But if it were otherwise, it were to us never the better.

M. 1. I shall prove that that is not true. 2. That if it were true it no whit amends the matter, nor maketh it lawful to us. I. It is not true: For. 1. The words of the declaration are as expresly universal as man can speak: And the foregoing words [to the use] do speak but define, and the words of the Declaration de mediis: And all Lawyers agree that when the title of a Law expresseth the End, that limiteth not the sense of the words of the Law, because the Means may be larger than the End. As the Oxford Act of Confinement is in the title to keep Nonconformists from Corporations; And yet Lawyers resolve that it extendeth also to Conformists, if one of them should but once preach in a Conventicle. The Parliament and Prelates thought that the way to secure the Vse, was to oblige them to Assent and Consent to all in the Book contained and prescribed: 1. Therefore they ty all to declare in that same form of words,