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

VII. It cannot be denied but that the number of raw cold, dry, yea and scandalous Ministers, in many Counties of this Kingdom is too great: And the more ignorant and bad the people are, the abler Ministers, and more diligent do they need: And those people who feel what profiteth their Souls, will not take up with cold, uneffectual teaching, if they can have better.

VII. It cannot be denyed but that the number of raw cold, dry, yea and scand•lous Ministers, in many Counties of this Kingdom is too great: And the more ignorant and bad the people are, the abler Ministers, and more diligent do they need: And those people who feel what profiteth their Souls, will not take up with cold, uneffectual teaching, if they can have better.

VIII. He that hath no Preacher but a Reader in his parish, is by the Church Laws forbidden to refuse his Ministry, and all such are forbidden frequent going to other parishes, communicating in them: what want soever they have at home.

IX. The Nonconformists that do but affirm any thing in the Liturgy, Ceremonies, Articles, Government, &c. to be unlawful, and such as they may not subscribe to, are by the Church Laws excommunicate ipso facto: And all that dare not take the Sacrament kneeling, are to be denied the Communion of the Church; And all that dare not submit their Children to be baptized by the foredescribed undertaking of Godfathers, and to receive the Cross as a dedicating badge of Christianity, must not have their Children Christened; And all that dare not commit their souls to the Pastoral Guidance of ignorant readers, or other men whom they think by their unskilfulness, unsoundness, averseness to a holy life, strangers to intimate cases of conscience, or notorious negligence and sloth, or non-residence, to be unmeet for them to trust themselves to, in so great a matter, in which their salvation is so much concerned, and so dare not take the Sacrament from such as their Pastors, all these are forbidden Communion with any other Parish Churches by the Canon, and all Ministers forbidden to receive them. And if they dare not say that they are willing to be confirmed (in the English mode) they must no where be admitted to communion: And being excommunicate, must not be buried according to the Church-Office when they are dead; so that they are cast out of the Church, before they Congregate in other Assemblies.