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

M. That's a Doctrine of gross Perjury: It's true, that no man that without authority forceth another to promise any thing to him, can lay any just claim to that which he forced a man to promise: For no mans own Crime can give him right to a Commodity; Nemini debetur Commodum ex propria culpâ, and the promiser is not bound to give it him, because he hath no right to receive it; but if you be injuriously forced to promise or vow your Duty to GOD, or the King, or your Neighbour, that vow and promise doth bind you to perform it. 1. If it be done without right by Prince or Prelates that force men to be Baptized, yet that forced Vow doth bind them. 2. If Bishops unjustly force unfit men to the LORD's Supper, their Vow there made obligeth them. ⟨p. 203⟩3. As I said, if a High-way Robber force you to swear to be true to the King, or to restore ill gotten goods, or to recant a slander, that Oath doth bind you. 4. If the King should unjustly force you to Marry a Woman, the Covenant binds you. The Reason is, because man hath free will, and doth all that he doth by that choice, which is true freedom. It's no proper force of his will that moveth him, though we call it force from another's act, who doth his best to force him; a man may refuse though he die for it. He that casteth his goods into the Sea to save the Ship, is urged to it, but may choose. He that giveth a Thief his purse to save his life, might have chosen. Do not the Martyrs freely lay down their lives? and if any deny Christ or his Cause to save his life, and say I was forced, that will not save his Soul. 5. And your Doctrine will set up all unfaithfulness and rebellion. All men that under Penalties are commanded to swear Allegiance, or to take this Corporation-Oath, or the Militia-Oath, or the Oath to the Bishops, are hereby taught to say, We were forced to it by the King and Prelates, and did it all against our wills, and therefore are not bound by it. Such principles loose the bonds of all Societies, Loyalty and humane Converse; and married men will put away their Wives when they are weary of them, and say, I was forced against my will by my Parents, or by Poverty, &c.

M. That's a Doctrine of gross Perjury: It's true, that no man that without authority forceth another to promise any thing to him, can lay any just clame to that which he forced a man to promise: For no mans own Crime can give him right to a Commodity; Nemini debetur Commodum ex propria culpâ, and the promiser is not bound to give it him, because he hath no right to receive it; but if you be injuriously forced to promise or vow your Duty to GOD, or the King, or your Neighbour, that vow and promise doth bind you to perform it. 1. If it be done without right by Prince or Prelates that force men to be Baptized, yet that forced Vow doth bind them. 2. If Bishops unjustly force unfit men to the LORD's Supper, their Vow there made obligeth them.