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History of the Nonjurors.
283

can arise from them."[1] He thinks too, with Johnson, that the prayer is virtually contained in the Prayer of Consecration, and the words of institution. " The sum of all this is, that changes are not to be easily made in a Church already settled, and especially in matters that have been of a long continuance: that there is no sufficient reason for the changes here desired, the two former having no foundation in Scripture, or even truly Apostolical tradition, and the others being virtually in our service as it stands without them."[2]

Leslie also appeared, in the controversy, against Collier, in a short tract of seven pages.[3] His object was to prevent a division. "I see no ground," he says, "for a breach upon that account, the utmost they can amount to is probable opinions." Referring Collier to Usher, Leslie remarks, "That nothing is to be received as faith or Christian doctrine, but what is written in the holy Scriptures, which are so perfect a rule, that nothing is to be added to them, which if any do, let him fear that woe denounced against such." He adds, afterwards: "In short, we must first find our rule of faith, before we apply any thing to it or it to any thing; if it be Scripture, we know where we are, but if it be tradition, we launch into an ocean which has neither shore nor bottom, nor we any compass to steer by, where we must be driven about with every wind of doctrine."[4]

From this pamphlet it appears, that some of the Nonjurors went over at this time to the Church of


  1. No Reason, &c. 83.
  2. Ibid. 90.
  3. A Letter from Mr. Leslie to his Friend, against Alterations or Additions to the Liturgy of the Church of England.
  4. Leslie's Letter, p. 4, 5,