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

5. what great confusion doth it breed in London that the French and Dutch Churches thus differ from the rest, and have their proper modes and Government? Yea or that the Nonconformists by the favour of his Majesties Licenses had their choice and several meetings. Let not envy and animosity feign greater confusion than there is, and the matter will appear much otherwise than it is represented, even that the discords and confusions were incomparably less (on that occasion) than they were under the Bishops in the better times of the Churches, even from An. 400 to 600, of which more in due place.

5. what great confusion doth it breed in London that the French and Dutch Churches thus differ from the rest, and have their proper modes and Government? Yea or that the Nonconformists by the favour of his Majesties Licenses had their choice and several meetings. Let not envy and animosity seign greater confusion than there is, and the matter will appear much otherwise than it is represented, even that the discords and confusions were incomparably less (on that occasion) than they were under the Bishops in the better times of the Churches, even from An. 400 to 600, of which more in due place.

6. They that will condemn all that hath inconveniences, shall condemn all things in this world: But the Greatest must be noted and avoided first. Shall the people have any judgment of discerning or not? If yea, the bounds of it must be showed, and not the thing denied as if it must bring in all confusion. If Usurpers claim the Crown, the Subjects must judge which is their true King, and must defend his right. Will you say, If the people be Judges, they may set up Usurpers, and put down the King? They are but discerners of that which is before their duty. They have no right to err, nor to alter the Law or right: But if it be otherwise, they are to be ruled as brutes: And so must not judge so much as whom they must obey. Is there any ⟨p. 71⟩Christian that dare say, that Bishops or Princes are in all things to be obeyed, lest the people be made Judges? And so that under Heathen, Mahometan, Papist, Heretical Rulers, they must be all of their Religion, as to the external professing and practising part? None dare for shame say so, save an Infidel. Is not this a greater confusion or mischief than that which is now disputed against: Therefore the bounds must be set on both sides, which are not difficult to discern: As the people have property in their limbs, children and liberties, and acquisitions antecedently to humane Government, which is to order these, and not to destroy them; so have all men greater interest in the safety of their own souls, which no man can take from them; no nor is it in their just power to put it into the hands of others from themselves. If Heretics, blind guides, ofaithless men, or insufficient, be made Pastors of the Flocks, and all men commanded to hear no better, nor trust the Pastoral Conduct of their souls into any wiser or safer hands, Satan will be more gratified by it, than by the disorder of the peoples choosing their own spiritual Councillors, Tutors and Physicians. And when Church-communion is due to none but voluntary accepters, men should not be used so as to take it still against their wills, and to be as it were crammed and drenched with sacred Mysteries, & driven to take them against their consciences and wills from such as they think they cannot communicate with, without being guilty of their sin: When some Councils have owned Pope Nicholas's decree, that no man ought to hear the Mass from a fornicating Priest;