he teaches in his little congregation, over which he presides as a pastor: where, while he boasts of the purity of his religion, and a steady adherence to his political system, he departs from every principle of humanity, and devotes his country to ruin." It is added in a note, "There is indeed a latent cause of this man's enmity to me, besides the reason which he hath given the public for his resentment. I have lately been unfortunately engaged in a lawsuit with one James Bettenham, a printer, a sanctified member of Gordon's congregation, but one of the greatest knaves I have ever known. This man, who had great obligations to me, and taken a great deal of my money, endeavoured, in settling a final account, to cheat me of £100. In this attempt he was assisted and justified by his father confessor."[1] There is, however, no reason for supposing that King's impressions were correct, respecting either Gordon or Bettenham. Differences had arisen, and he gives vent to his anger in this severe attack.
The Nonjurors of the Separation, which commenced in 1733 or 1734, continued their succession of Bishops several years after Gordon's death. The breach, which had been occasioned by the Usages, was, as has been shewn, closed in 1733, with the exception of Bishop Blackburn and a few of his Presbyters, who made no attempt to continue the succession apart from the general body. But no sooner had they become a united party, by the healing of this breach, than another separation occurred, on totally different grounds. The Separatists proceeded to consecrate Bishops of their own, apart from the regular body. But as the schism was headed only by one Bishop,
- ↑ King's Anecdotes, 201.
