This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
History of the Nonjurors.
151

tical schism, where all the offices of religion are the same: only some are deprived for not doing what the law of the land requires: i. e. they rather chose to lose their places than to do their duties; which is a very new ground of separation, and utterly unknown to the Christian Church." He thus alludes to the other question: "As to the public Offices of the Church, with respect to their Majesties, I can find no one instance, in the Greek or Latin Church, where these were scrupled to be used with respect to those who were in actual possession of the throne by the providence of God, and consent of the people. And I have this plain evidence against it, that nothing more than these is put into the Offices themselves."[1] Elsewhere he remarks, "It is said by a learned Greek ritualist, that their prayers for the Emperors were to be used, whether they came to the throne by succession, election, or revolution. That in case of any doubt concerning different persons, the prayers were made for those who were in actual possession by the providence of God."[2]

A strong pamphlet was published at this period, entitled "Querela Temporum, or The Danger of the Church of England." The writer's aim was to induce the belief, that the danger from Presbytery, at that time, was as great as the danger of Popery, prior to the Revolution. Many acts of the government, such as the setting aside episcopacy in Scotland, and the promotion of men of latitudinarian principles, are adduced. It does not appear that any effect was produced by this work. Ralph says: "How


  1. Stillingfleet's Miscellaneous Discourses, 432—436.
  2. Ibid. 418.