The nonconformists plea for peace, or, An account of their judgment in certain things…

I have translated and adjoined the Epistle of Cyprian and an African Council with him (where were then the best ordered Churches in the World; as far as I can learn) in which they counsel the Churches of Basilides and Martial ⟨p. 67⟩to forsake them because they were Libellatiks in persecution, proving from Scripture that uncapable persons cannot be Pastors, and that such scandalous sinners and bad men were uncapable persons (forma non recipitur in matcriam indispositam;) charging it upon their consciences as from Gods word; showing them that else they will be Guilty of their sins because the chief power is in the people both of choosing the worthy, and forsaking the unworthy. And yet these two Bishops lived beyond the Seas in another Country, and the Bishops of their own Country and the Bishop of Rome had dealt more gently with them, and adjudged Communion to them. And the Africans pretended to no authority over them, but by Counsel told them of Gods own Law, which no man had power to invalidate. They charge the people as heinous sinners if they forsake not a wicked unmeet Bishop or Pastor. what Libellaticks were I supposed the reader to know (viz, such as to save their lives in persecution, had permitted another to put their names by subscription to a false profession that favoured idolatry or infidelity)

I have translated and adjoyned the Epistle of Cyprian and an Africane Council with him (where were then the best ordered Churches in the World; as farr as I can learn) in which they counsel the Churches of Basilides and Martial ⟨p. 67⟩to forsake them because they were Libellatiks in persecution, proving from Scripture that uncapable persons cannot be Pastors, and that such scandalous sinners and bad men were uncapable persons (forma non recipitur in matcriam indispositam;) charging it upon their consciences as from Gods word; shewing them that els they will be Guilty of their sins because the chief power is in the people both of chusing the worthy, and forsaking the unworthy. And yet these two Bishops lived beyond the Seas in another Country, and the Bishops of their own Country and the Bishop of Rome had dealt more gently with them, and adjudged Communion to them. And the Africans pretended to no authority over them, but by Counsell told them of Gods own Law, which no man had power to invalidate. They charge the people as heinous sinners if they forsake not a wicked unmeet Bishop or Pastor. what Libellaticks were I supposed the reader to know (viz, such as to save their lives in persecution, had permitted another to put their names by subscription to a false profession that favoured idolatry or infidelity)