Act for their deprivation: and therefore many who took it, did so, because they conceived, that their ecclesiastical superiors, by their silence, sanctioned them in such a course. "Hence it came to pass, that some who took the Oath were willing to lay the occasion thereof upon the very Bishops whom they departed from in so doing."[1] The Bishops did not influence the Clergy: they did not express their opinions publicly on the proceedings of the government: and consequently some, who complied, were disposed to attribute their compliance to the Bishops themselves. But on the other hand it may be remarked, that the views of the Bishops were generally known. They had several meetings at Lambeth: and some of the Clergy did actually apply to them for their advice and assistance, which were never refused.
Alluding to the argument derived from the comparatively small number of the Nonjurors, Leslie somewhat coarsely remarks: "This is the common topic, and runs through them all, and yet there is not one of them but knows full well that this means nothing at all, that truth was never tried by rolling and telling of noses: that numbers were never any evidence of a good cause. At this rate the Alcoran will vie with the Gospel, and Turcism will be not only better than Popery, but even than Christianity itself. This therefore is nothing else but cheating and deluding the people, instead of informing and instructing them. And they are hard put to it sure, when to save their own credit, and to blast others, they are forced so frequently to inculcate such an argument, which they themselves in their own con-
- ↑ Kettlewell, 108.
