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

X. In this case the Nonconformists are not agreed what to do: One part and the far greatest say, 1. We will forbear affirming the unlawfulness of any of the foresaid impositions, till we are called to speak out: And because the case of ⟨p. 233⟩these times calls us often to it, we will do it as privately and modestly as we can: 2. And though we are excommunicated ipso facto, yet we are not bound our selves to execute their sentence; but may stay in Communion till they prove the fact and do the execution on us themselves by refusing us: And this we take to be the most peaceable way: But others say, That though in some cases for peace this way may be taken, yet ordinarily we are not bound to seek and expect Communion with that Church which hath already thus excommunicated us; especially when all the Ministry subscribe and declare their Conformity to the Church orders, and swear Canonical obedience to the Ordinaries, and are themselves to be suspended if they give us the Communion: We must not, say they, strive against their Laws, nor seek that Ministers should be perjured, false to their promises and professions to admit us to Communion against their Laws: Nor can any Church that first excommunicateth us, call us Schismatics for not communicating with them, unless they prove that we give them just cause to excommunicate us. Here it is supposed that the Reader understandeth that [to be excommunicated ipso facto,] is sine sententia, without any need of a Judges sentence, to be actually excommunicate upon our fact done, so that the bare proof and notice of the fact is enough to warrant the execution (Though a Judge may also pass a sentence if he see cause,) vid. Calv. Lexic. Jurid. And others commonly. There are some others that go further, and think it unlawful to have Communion with the Parish Churches, because they thus excommunicate us first, without more ⟨p. 234⟩cause, and because they take the Pastors to be scandalous by the foresaid Oaths, Declarations and subscriptions, and those that have not the peoples consent, to be no true Pastors. But these are herein disowned by the most; and very few Ministers are of their mind that we know of, though many of the people much incline to it; especially they that live where the Priests are ignorant, scandalous, slothful, or malignant; because Pa•l saith, [W••h sc, no not to eat] But others tell them that 1.