ny man can make that in fewer words than
the law of England enjoins, I know not how it can be acceptable to his
Majesty."[150]

As a sect in the Jewish nation made void the law by their traditions, so
the sect of Congregational rulers in Massachusetts Bay thus made void
the national oath of allegiance by their additions. On the subject of
liberty of worship according to the Church of England, these sectarian
rulers express themselves thus:

"Concerning the use of the Common Prayer Book and ecclesiastical
privileges, our humble addresses to his Majesty have fully declared our
ends, in our being voluntary exiles from our dear native country, which
we had not chosen at so dear a rate, could we have seen the word of God
warranting us to perform our devotions in that way; and to have the same
set up here, we conceive it is apparent, that it will disturb our peace
in our present enjoyments; and we have commended to the ministry and
people here the word of the Lord for their rule therein, as you may find
by your perusal of our law book, title 'Ecclesiastical,' p. 25."

To this the King's Commissioners reply as follows:

"The end of the first Planters coming hither was (as expressed in your
address, 1660), the enjoyment of the liberty of your own consciences,
which the King is so far from taking away from you, that by every
occasion he hath promised and assured the full enjoyment of it to you.
We therefore advise that you should not deny the liberty of conscience
to any, especially where the King requires it; and that upon a vain
conceit of your own that it will disturb your enjoyments, which the King
often hath said it shall not.

"Though you commend to the ministers and people the word of the Lord for
their rule, yet you did it with a proviso that they have the approbation
of the Court, as appears in the same page; and we have great reason both
to think and say that the King and his Council and the Church of England
understand and follow the rules in God's word as much as this
Corporation.

"For the use of the Common Prayer Book: His Majesty doth not impose the
use of the Common Prayer Book on any, but he understands that liberty of
conscience comprehends every man's conscience as well as any particular,
and thinks that all his subjects should have equal rights; and in his
letter of June 28, 1662, he requires and charges that all his subjects
should have equally an allowance thereof; but why you should put that
restrai