M. 1. What mean you by [our party?] If you mean Nonconformists to the present Laws of Conformity, you are easily confuted: For the Rebellion was over, and the King restored before the present Conformity was Enacted: And when there was no such Law, there were no Nonconformists to it, nor any such Party in being.
If you mean the old Nonconformists, I answer you.
1. They were part for the Parliament, part against their War, and part Neuters.
2. There was a multitude of Conformist Ministers for the Parliament for one Nonconformist: I have oft proved, that there was at the beginning of that Parliament, not many more Nonconformist Ministers left in England, than were Counties, if so many. In the Westminster As•e•ly there were but seven or eight Englishmen: Most of the Sermons before the Parliament, which are now most blamed, were Preached by Conformists.
3. Such as kept in, and obeyed the Parliament and Usurpers, did most of them Conform, of 9000 or 10000 Ministers, there were but two thousand that Conformed not: And did mere turning to Conformity manifest Repentance?
4. But I have oft, and oft said, if they will silence all that had any hand in Wars, (except the Conformists) and no more, we ⟨p. 153⟩will thank them with great joy? For I do not think there are forty, that I say not twenty, silenced Ministers alive in all England, that had any hand in the War against the King. And it's an odd kind of Justice that should eject and accuse so great a number for other mens Actions.
5. But if our Doctrine be Seditious, why should not we be allowed rather to Preach openly where Witnesses may convict us, and the Law take hold on us, than in secret to four, where none can convict us?
6. And how comes it to pass, that whilst so many hundred Ministers are hunted and ruined for Preaching, we hear of none at all punished for any False or Seditious Doctrine? Do those that watch, accuse and ruin us, want will to find out our false or ill Doctrine? while I am writing this, the common talk is, two poor Fellows accused such a one, and two Beggars, or poor Women that stood at the doors, took their Oaths against such, and such, and such, many. Warrants granted to distrain for Forty Pound or Sixty Pound a Sermon, on Ministers and People; the Citizens Goods seized, and carried away, their Shops made bare, many laid in Jails, and thousands waiting for utter ruin of all they have;
M. 1. What mean you by [our party?] If you mean Nonconformists to the present Laws of Conformity, you are easily confuted: For the Rebellion was over, and the King restored before the present Conformity was Enacted: And when there was no such Law, there were no Nonconformists to it, nor any such Party in being.
If you mean the old Nonconformists, I answer you.
1. They were part for the Parliament, part against their War, and part Neuters.
2. There was a multitude of Conformist Ministers for the Parliament for one Nonconformist: I have oft proved, that there was at the beginning of that Parliament, not many more Nonconformist Ministers left in England, than were Counties, if so many. In the Westminster As•e•ly there were but seven or eight Englishmen: Most of the Sermons before the Parliament, which are now most blamed, were Preached by Conformists.
3. Such as kept in, and obeyed the Parliament and Usurpers, did most of them Conform, of 9000 or 10000 Ministers, there were but two thousand that Conformed not: And did meer turning to Conformity manifest Repentance?
4. But I have oft, and oft said, if they will silence all that had any hand in Wars, (except the Conformists) and no more, we ⟨p. 153⟩will thank them with great joy? For I do not think there are forty, that I say not twenty, silenced Ministers alive in all England, that had any hand in the War against the King. And it's an odd kind of Justice that should eject and accuse so great a number for other mens Actions.
5. But if our Doctrine be Seditious, why should not we be allowed rather to Preach openly where Witnesses may convict us, and the Law take hold on us, than in secret to four, where none can convict us?
6. And how comes it to pass, that whilst so many hundred Ministers are hunted and ruined for Preaching, we hear of none at all punished for any False or Seditious Doctrine? Do those that watch, accuse and ruin us, want will to find out our false or ill Doctrine? while I am writing this, the common talk is, two poor Fellows accused such a one, and two Beggars, or poor Women that stood at the doors, took their Oaths against such, and such, and such, many. Warrants granted to distrain for Forty Pound or Sixty Pound a Sermon, on Ministers and People; the Citizens Goods seized, and carryed away, their Shops made bare, many laid in Jayls, and thousands waiting for utter ruin of all they have;
