The second part of The nonconformists plea for peace being an account of their…

Answ. No, if subscription signify approbation; for in that case it is hypocrisy, &c. But if subscription were no more than the office of a Clerk of the Sig[…]e or Council, who in form of Law is to sign all the Acts of the Council, it were different, For it is not as an account of his own opinion, but as a formality of the Court: all the world looks on it as none of his personal Act—▪ But in subscription to Articles of Confession every Ecclesiastic that subscribes, does it for himself— […]ubens & ex animo subscripsi, is our form in the Church of England—If the intention of our Superior be to require our Assent—he that subscribes does profess his assent; and whatever he thinks himself, it is the intention of the Imposer that qualifieth the subscription. —No particular Church ought with rigour to require subscriptions to Articles not evidently true, and necessary to be professed: because in the division of hearts that is in the world, it is certain that some good men may dissent, and then either they shall be afflicted or tempted to hypocrisy: of either of which if Ecclesiastic Laws be guilty, they are not for edification, they are neither just nor pious; and therefore oblige not.]

Answ. No, if subscription signifie approbation; for in that case it is hypocrisie, &c. But if subscription were no more than the office of a Clerk of the Sig〈…〉e or Council, who in form of Law is to sign all the Acts of the Council, it were different, For it is not as an account of his own opinion, but as a formality of the Court: all the world looks on it as none of his personal Act—▪ But in subscription to Articles of Confession every Ecclesiastick that subscribes, does it for himself— 〈…〉ubens & ex animo subscripsi, is our form in the Church of England—If the intention of our Superior be to require our Assent—he that subscribes does profess his assent; and whatever he thinks himself, it is the intention of the Imposer that qualifieth the subscription. —No particular Church ought with rigour to require subscriptions to Articles not evidently true, and necessary to be professed: because in the division of hearts that is in the world, it is certain that some good men may dissent, and then either they shall be afflicted or tempted to hypocrisie: of either of which if Ecclesiastick Laws be guilty, they are not for edification, they are neither just nor pious; and therefore oblige not.]