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

Answ. True; therefore that must not be: 1. There are some previous qualifications so essentially necessary to the Ministry, that without them no man is owned as his Minister by Christ, nor should be by men. 2. The Ordainers are to be Judges whether men have these qualifications. 3. The people are discerning Judges which qualified ordained man (or to be ordained) is meet for them; so far as it is necessary to their mutual Consent. 4. If a Heretic or other intolerable person must set up a Preacher; or if any turn Heretic, the Orthodox Churches are (after due admonition) to renounce him as unacceptable of their communion; that he may be shamed and avoided. 5. If yet he continue obstinate, and do more harm than good, the Magistrate is Ruler, and must restrain him, and deny him leave so to Preach in his Dominions; so he do it not by penalties unsuitable to the offence: (Dis franchising, discountenancing and shame, do usually more against Heresies than cruelties.) But Necessary Faithful Teachers may not on these pretences be cast out.

Answ. True; therefore that must not be: 1. There are some previous qualifications so essentially necessary to the Ministry, that without them no man is owned as his Minister by Christ, nor should be by men. 2. The Ordainers are to be Judges whether men have these qualifications. 3. The people are discerning Judges which qualified ordained man (or to be ordained) is meet for them; so far as it is necessary to their mutual Consent. 4. If a Heretick or other intollerable person must set up a Preacher; or if any turn Heretick, the Orthodox Churches are (after due admonition) to renounce him as unacceptable of their communion; that he may be shamed and avoided. 5. If yet he continue obstinate, and do more harm than good, the Magistrate is Ruler, and must restrain him, and deny him leave so to Preach in his Dominions; so he do it not by penalties unsuitable to the offence: (Dis franchising, discountenancing and shame, do usually more against Heresies than cruelties.) But Necessary Faithful Teachers may not on these pretences be cast out.

LXII. 18. If the People conscious of their great Necessity of Pastoral over-sight and help, and of Christ's command to use it, do live in a Parish or Country where they cannot have it from those that the Magistrate alloweth, either because they cannot perform it for them, or because they will not; it is no Schism for such to seek and use it, from worthy though prohibited men.