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

2. It is none of the Controversy here, 1. Whether that vow was lawfully imposed or contrived, 2. Nor whether it were lawfully taken. 3. Nor whether part of the matter was unlawful. But supposing all these unlawful, 1. Whether all alteration of Church Government be unlawful? whether it be not in the power of the King and Parliament, to set a Bishop in every Market Town: or to take the use of the Keys from Laymen: or to take down Archdeacons, Officials, Commissaries. Surrogates, &c? Whether all Reformation be out of the power of the King, or not to be desired by the people? ⟨p. 212⟩2. Whether that which is Lawful may not be done by the Law makers, and be endeavoured by speech in Parliament, or by petition by the people; Especially if the King Command it? 3. Whether men be not bound by a Vow to that which is Lawful: much more to that Which is antecedently a duty?

2. It is none of the Controversie here, 1. Whether that vow was lawfully imposed or contrived, 2. Nor whether it were lawfuly taken. 3. Nor whether part of the matter was unlawful. But supposing all these unlawful, 1. Whether all alteration of Church Government be unlawful? whether it be not in the power of the King and Parliament, to set a Bishop in every Market Town: or to take the use of the Keys from Laymen: or to take down Archdeacons, Officials, Commissaries. Surrogates, &c? Whether all Reformation be out of the power of the King, or not to be desired by the people? ⟨p. 212⟩2. Whether that which is Lawful may not be done by the Law makers, and be endeavoured by speech in Parliament, or by petition by the people; Especially if the King Command it? 3. Whether men be not bound by a Vow to that which is Lawful: much more to that Which is antecedently a duty?

3. The Conformists are here disagreed among themselves; some say that the Vow Bindeth not because it was unlawfully imposed: But other• better say, that this proveth no more, but that the Imposers could not bind me to take it by any authority of theirs; And that if I had taken it in secret without imposition, I had been bound by it: Else no private Vow should bind. Some say that it binds not because it was sinfully taken: But others truly say that if Oaths bind not wherever men take them sinfully, no wicked man should ever be bound by Oaths or Vows, because they usually make them sinfully by an ill end and intention, wrong motives, or ill principles or manner: Or at least a bad man might choose whether ever he will be obliged: But all good casuists agree, that if the matter be lawful the unlawful taking hinders not the obligation. A man that is Baptized with ill motives or intentions, is yet obliged by his Baptismal Vow. Some say that it binds not because the matter it self is unlawful. But its granted that it bindeth to no unlawful matter: Others therefore truly say that he that Voweth six things whereof three are sinful, is not disobliged by the conjunction of these from the other three that are Lawful: Else a Knave may keep himself disobliged as to all Vows, by putting in some unlawful thing. Some say that