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

M. You are too confused while you talk against confusion. 1. Do you think Men that believe not a God and a Life to come are fit for Church Communion, and may be forced to it? No nor any that do not desire Christ, Grace and Glory before all the Baits of sin. 2. Did you think I had pleaded that Men may without punishment do what they list, and live in wickedness? It's one thing to restrain them from sin, and another to constrain them to sin under the name of Religion. 3. Nor did I speak against constraining Atheists and Infidels and Malignant Enemies to hear the Gospel. 4. But your force cannot constrain them to believe. And 5. You ought not constrain them to Lie and say they believe. 6. And you ought not profanely to Lie in Christ's Name, by telling an unwilling Communicant that all his sins are pardoned, and that you Seal it to him. Do as much good by force as you can, but do no mischief.

M. You are too confused while you talk against confusion. 1. Do you think Men that believe not a God and a Life to come are fit for Church Communion, and may be forced to it? No nor any that do not desire Christ, Grace and Glory before all the Baits of sin. 2. Did you think I had pleaded that Men may without punishment do what they list, and live in wickedness? It's one thing to restrain them from sin, and another to constrain them to sin under the name of Religion. 3. Nor did I speak against constraining Atheists and Infidels and Malignant Enemies to hear the Gospel. 4. But your force cannot constrain them to believe. And 5. You ought not constrain them to Lie and say they believe. 6. And you ought not prophanely to Lie in Christ's Name, by telling an unwilling Communicant that all his sins are pardoned, and that you Seal it to him. Do as much good by force as you can, but do no mischief.

L. But hath not the King more power over your Family than you have? Sure the highest power is the greatest, and containeth all the lower in it. The last words are a great mistake: Political Power doth not contain Natural, Personal and Economical, and Ecclesiastical in it; but supposeth them all unalterable and pre-existent, and only useth them to Political ends, that is, the safety and good of the Common-wealth: And as far as this end requireth, the King hath more power of my Wife, Children, Estate, Life, than I have: That is, He may see that I use my Personal and Family Government so, as may not hurt the Commonwealth, and do more harm than good. But that Politic Power doth neither contain nor abrogate the other is evident. 1. The King doth not eat and drink for me, nor digest my Meat, nor rejoice or grieve for me. 2. The King doth not sin by my sinning, nor shall be judged, saved or damned for me. 3. The King may not choose my Wife, Diet, &c. As aforesaid: Nor hath he right to lye with your Wife as you have, nor to dispose of your Children or Propriety. 4. The King that ruleth Priests may not do what the Priest doth, administer Sacraments, use the Church Keys, &c. So that all that he can do, is to over-rule Personal, Family and Church Governors, to the common good, without destroying them.