certainly was not the way to bring them over to take the Oaths. We find that many of their works of this period were published without the name of the printer, a method resorted to undoubtedly for the purpose of concealment. The feelings of the government must have been very sore against the Nonjurors, for Bennet closes his preface with the following notification:
"If any person shall think it unsafe for him to publish an answer to this tract, I entreat him to send his papers to me, by such a way as he shall choose, (with this single hint, that the parcel comes from an unknown hand) and I do solemnly promise, that if they are written as becomes a Christian and a scholar, (of which such Nonjurors shall be judges as their brethren will readily confide in) I will make no inquiry after the author: but in a reasonable space of time, will either return him thanks for confuting me, or else reply in such a manner that he shall have no reason to complain of my misrepresenting his sense, or injuring his arguments."[1]
It is clear from this notice that great severity was practised towards the Nonjurors; and that they could not openly appear in defence of their principles. Bennet's work may be regarded, as expressive of the views of a large body of the members of the Church of England on the subjects at issue between them and the Nonjurors. His aim was to prove them guilty of schism on their own principles. At this time, the chief differences between the Church
- ↑ The Nonjurors' Separation from the Public Assemblies of the Church of England examined, and proved to be Schismatical on their own Principles: by Tho. Bennet, D. D. 8vo. London, 1716, p. 2.
