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

M. I do challenge oft any to name that Nation under Heaven out of the Kings Dominions that hath two thousand worthier Ministers than those that were here silenced, and reviled, and hunted like Rogues. But I pray you tell me, 1. Do you know how many, and what sort of men the Patrons in England are that choose them? The Conformists oft say that many of them are Simonists: It's well known that many of them are taken for the famousest Papists in the Country. Tho' they have the wit and faculty to keep off Legal Conviction, or else to manage their Advowsons by Trustees. And O how well were it with England if none or few of them were Worldlings, Gluttons, Drunkards, Whoremongers, or Haters, or Prosecutors of serious godly men? Is there any Body doubts whether there be such? And tho' good and sober Lords and Gentlemen will promote good and sober men, the propagation of the species is the most natural Appetite; and an evil Tree will bring forth evil Fruit, and a Hater of Godliness is unlike to choose a godly Pastor. And any man that hath Money, be he never so bad or erroneous may buy an Advowson or Presentation. And must all poor Souls have no other Pastors than these men will chuse? And quo jure? how came they by a right to choose Pastors for all the •and? Did God ever give it them? The People at first sinfully gave it them, in blind gratitude, for Building and Endowing Temples. But Mens Grant many hundred years ago, being sinful, hath no power to bind our Consciences: Our Fore fathers might give their Lands from their Posterity; but they could not give away Gods Ordinances, nor the means of our Salvation. If Patrons might ill dispose of Temples and Tithes, that's nothing to prove that they may choose Pastors for all men against their wills.

M. I do challenge oft any to name that Nation under Heaven out of the Kings Dominions that hath two thousand worthier Ministers than those that were here silenced, and reviled, and hunted like Rogues. But I pray you tell me, 1. Do you know how many, and what sort of men the Patrons in England are that chuse them? The Conformists oft say that many of them are Simonists: It's well known that many of them are taken for the famousest Papists in the Countrey. Tho' they have the wit and faculty to keep off Legal Conviction, or else to manage their Advowsons by Trustees. And O how well were it with England if none or few of them were Worldlings, Gluttons, Drunkards, Whoremongers, or Haters, or Prosecutors of serious godly men? Is there any Body doubts whether there be such? And tho' good and sober Lords and Gentlemen will promote good and sober men, the propagation of the species is the most natural Appetite; and an evil Tree will bring forth evil Fruit, and a Hater of Godliness is unlike to chuse a godly Pastor. And any man that hath Money, be he never so bad or erroneous may buy an Advowson or Presentation. And must all por Souls have no other Pastors than these men will chuse? And quo jure? how came they by a right to chuse Pastors for all the and? Did God ever give it them? The People at first sinfully gave it them, in blind gratitude, for Building and Endowing Temples. But Mens Grant many hundred years ago, being sinful, hath no power to bind our Consciences: Our Fore fathers might give their Lands from their Posterit; but they could not give away Gods Ordinances, nor the means of our Salvation. If Patrons might ill dispose of Temples and Tythes, that's nothing to prove that they may chuse Pastors for all men against their wills.