cally vacant: so that, in his opinion, the Nonjuring Bishops retained their authority, and might challenge their rights. He was one of the most powerful advocates of the party: and having been so long practised in controversy, he was well qualified for the work. Accordingly he made his appearance against Hody and the Baroccian MS.[1]
Dodwell first assails the MS. for the want of antiquity, since it was not written before the thirteenth century, and was consequently too late as an evidence of facts. He then comes to Hody's principle, that no separation was allowed even though Bishops were unjustly deprived. All the cases are examined by Dodwell with his usual ability. A brief account of his arguments is also given in his Life.[2] Dodwell built a good deal on the fact, that the deprived Bishops asserted their rights, and challenged the duty of the people. He also contended that, on St. Cyprian's principles, Bishops placed in sees vacant only by the authority of the secular magistrate, were not only schismatics, but nulli. He even charges the new Bishops with heresy, on the ground that they justified their schism by principles. "When it is defended by principles, it turns into false doctrine."[3] In considering the Canons suppressed by
- ↑ A Vindication of the Deprived Bishops, asserting their spiritual rights against a lay deprivation, against the charge of Schism as managed by the editors of an anonymous Baroccian MS. In Two Parts. I. Shewing that though the instances collected in the said MS. had been pertinent to the editor's design, yet that would not have been sufficient for obtaining their cause. II. Shewing that the Instances there collected are indeed not pertinent to the editor's design, for indicating the validity of the deprivation of spiritual power by a lay-authority. London, 4to. 1692.
- ↑ Dodwell's Life, pp. 235—53.
- ↑ Vindication of the deprived Bishops, &c. p. 24.
