All such inhabitants of this state of any religious denomination whatever, as from scruples of conscience may be averse to bearing arms, are to be excused therefrom by paying to the state an equivalent in money; and the legislature is required to provide by law for the collection of such equivalent, to be estimated according to the expense, in time and money, of an ordinary able-bodied militiaman.
N.Y. Civ. RightsLaw § 6