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

M. You must confess the use of discipline, or else openly disown the Word of God, the very Being of the Church, and the Judgment of the Universal Church to this day. And do you think then that to deprive the Church of this is a lawful part of Conformity?

L. How prove you that the Laity is deprived of it?

M. 1. In our Great Parishes, the People are few of them known to the Priest or to one another. Of the two Parishes of my last abode, I do not think but there are Fifty Thousand unknown to the Minister and to each other. And how can these admonish the Offenders, or the Minister exercise this discipline upon unknown Persons? 2. The People know that it is in vain to begin where there can be no progress. To what purpose is it to tell the Church, when it's sure to do more harm than good. 1. The swarm of the Vicious is so great, that they cannot be Prosecuted. 2. The Minister himself forbeareth it as unpracticable. 3. The accused must be Prosecuted at rates which Men cannot bear. 4. And before Bishops, that cannot possibly do this work to one of a Thousand, any more than one School-master can Try and Correct all the faulty Scholars in a Diocese. 5. And Men must be Judges that will never call Sinners to Repentance with Ministerial Evidence, and Love, and Patience, but like Secular Courts, bid them Recant or be Excommunicate. 6. And the Cause must be decided by Lay-men that profanely usurp the Power of the Keys. And how is Christ's discipline here possible? Polluted, common Churches frighten away the Religious conscionable People.

M. 1. In our Great Parishes, the People are few of them known to the Priest or to one another. Of the two Parishes of my last abode, I do not think but there are Fifty Thousand unknown to the Minister and to each other. And how can these admonish the Offenders, or the Minister exercise this discipline upon unknown Persons? 2. The People know that it is in vain to begin where there can be no progress. To what purpose is it to tell the Church, when it's sure to do more harm than good. 1. The swarm of the Vicious is so great, that they cannot be Prosecuted. 2. The Minister himself forbeareth it as unpracticable. 3. The accused must be Prosecuted at rates which Men cannot bear. 4. And before Bishops, that cannot possibly do this work to one of a Thousand, any more than one School-master can Try and Correct all the faulty Scholars in a Diocess. 5. And Men must be Judges that will never call Sinners to Repentance with Ministerial Evidence, and Love, and Patience, but like Secular Courts, bid them Recant or be Excommunicate. 6. And the Cause must be decided by Lay-men that profanely usurp the Power of the Keys. And how is Christ's discipline here possible? Polluted, common Churches frighten away the Religious conscionable People.