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

18. When Pastors do usurp Power over one another to command all about them to speak to men from God or to God for men, in no other words but what the usurpers shall write them down, and so make Ministers but Criers to read their prescripts or Proclamations, and also do prescribe to others the necessary use of unnecessary things, according to the Usurpers will, this is and hath been the Grand Engine of Church Divisions, by which the Churches have been torn in pieces for above a thousand years. And because every age doth bring forth men Proud enough to usurp, and few wise enough to learn by the Churches many hundred years experience, thereby the mischief proceedeth unremedied.

18. When Pastors do usurp Power over one another to command all about them to speak to men from God or to God for men, in no other words but what the usurpers shall write them down, and so make Ministers but Cryers to read their prescripts or Proclamations, and also do prescribe to others the necessary use of unnecessary things, according to the Vsurpers will, this is and hath been the Grand Engine of Church Divisions, by which the Churches have been torn in pieces for above a thousand years. And because every age doth bring forth men Proud enough to usurp, and few wise enough to learn by the Churches many hundred years experience, thereby the mischief proceedeth unremedied.

19. But if any find it best to use the same words, or many Churches, to avoid inconveniences, shall see cause to agree to use the same words in Confessions, in Psalms, in Prayers or Sacraments without usurpation over others, we are no opposers of such agreements. And if our lawful Governors do prescribe, e. g. One translation of the Scripture to be read, One Version of the Psalms to be Sung, we do obey: and if mistakingly they should take any part of the Pastors work out of his hands by their impositions, though we may not neglect our necessary duty, we shall behave our selves as true peaceableness ☞and the honour of our Rulers with the Churches edification doth require.

19. But if any find it best to use the same words, or many Churches, to avoid inconveniences, shall see cause to agree to use the same words in Confessions, in Psalms, in Prayers or Sacraments without usurpation over others, we are no opposers of such agreements. And if our lawful Governours do prescribe, e. g. One translation of the Scripture to be read, One Version of the Psalms to be Sung, we do obey: and if mistakingly they should take any part of the Pastors work out of his hands by their impositions, though we may not neglect our necessary duty, we shall behave our selves as true peaceableness ☞and the honour of our Rulers with the Churches edification doth require.