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History of the Nonjurors.

and I beseech God to bless the King, Queen, and Prince, and in his due time to restore them to their just and undoubted rights."[1] "His virtue," says Nelson, "was uniform: for when he was in his greatest elevation he declined the commands of his lawful and rightful Prince, rather than obey him, to the prejudice of the true religion and the established laws: yet he would not resist his Sovereign to save both, because he apprehended the laws of the land, as well as the precepts of the Gospel expressly forbid it: and chose rather the expulsion from all his honours and ecclesiastical revenues, than violate his conscience or stain the purity of those principles, which he had always maintained and defended."[2]

Though he had since his retirement communicated only with Nonjurors, who did not frequent the Parish Church, yet he was resorted to by many who had taken the Oath. Some, who visited him, asked his blessing, which was always bestowed without any hesitation. He remarked, sometimes, in allusion to those who complied, that "notwithstanding he and they might go different ways, with respect to the public affairs, he trusted yet that heaven-gates would be wide enough to receive both him and them."[3] Though he did not attend the Parish Church, yet the Clergyman of the Parish frequently visited the Archbishop. His opinions respecting the Parochial Assemblies, in consequence of the prayers for the new Sovereigns, were very strong. Thus it is said, that on one occasion, when his sentiments were asked, he replied, "That there ought to be an absolution at


  1. Macpherson's Papers i, 278.
  2. Nelson's Life of Bishop Bull, 356.
  3. Kettlewell, 159.