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

L. What confusion will this make in the World, when all people, even Wives and Servants may choose on what Pastor they will depend, and where they will Communicate.

L. What confusion will this make in the World, when all people, even Wives and Servants may chuse on what Pastor they will depend, and where they will Communicate.

M. It were a happy World if you, or any did deliver it from differences, yea, or confusion. But perfect concord is no where but where is perfect knowledge, holiness, righteousness and love. If it breed confusions in the World that every Man choose his own Dwelling, Trade, Diet, Clothing, Wife, Servants, Travels, Company, Physician, Counsellor, Tutor, Master, Books, &c. And so that their Life, Death and Souls be more in their own power than another's, there is no remedy: If you would devise any other Chooser for them of all these, you would cure that disorder with madness and destruction; who is it that should choose all these for all other Men? He that chooseth for them must answer for them, and must be accordingly saved or damned for them. If God had appointed some Pope that he would always make wise and good, to choose for the Kingdoms of China, Pegu, Tartary, Japan, Sumatra, and all the rest of the World, what Religion they should be of, and what they should love and hate, speak and do, it would have brought the World to a happy state, if all would stand to that Mans choice: But who can teach God how to Rule the World, and say, Thou shouldst have made Man otherwise. Will you mark this: Either it is only to command Men what to choose, or else to make them choose by efficient determination of their wills; or else to move them by force without or against their wills, that you would have the World saved from sin and confusion. There is but these three ways. And I. To move them against or without their wills, is natural motion or violent, and will make none of their actions good or bad in a Moral sence: Nil nisi voluntarium est morale: Thus a Horse, a Watch, a Ship is governed: And you may lay them in what order you will, when they are dead. ⟨p. 172⟩II. To make them good by Physical efficient determination of Mens wills, God can do it and doth not, at least, with most. Man cannot do it: It's madness to pretend to it. And I hope you will not accuse God, who only can do it, for not curing the sin and confusions of the World this way. III. It is therefore only the Moral way of Cure that remaineth, by Laws, Rewards and Punishments: And hath not God made better Laws for Religion than Man can make? More infallible and perfect, with more awful Power, and with ten thousand fold greater Rewards and Punishments?