A short time before, Brett was compelled to come forward publicly to defend himself from the charge of Popery, which was alleged against him by some persons, who could not confute his arguments. I have previously noticed the constant charge of Popery against the Nonjurors—a charge of the most unfounded description. It was then the custom with certain persons, as is the case in our day, to cry out Popery against principles and arguments, which they could not refute. In this respect, there is a great similarity between those times and the present. Even now, whenever a man stands up for the principles of the Church, in matters of discipline and government, the cry of Popery is immediately raised by Dissenters, who never refuse to act with Papists, and by loose Churchmen, who never refuse to unite with Dissenters the allies of Popery, and who see no evil in Dissent. Brett considered it necessary to publish a Defence of himself.[1] Newspapers were then, as at present, the ordinary vehicles for the publication of calumny. In the work in question, Brett enumerates the peculiarities of Popery, and then enters into a
- ↑ Dr. Brett's Vindication of Himself from the calumnies thrown upon Him in some late Newspapers, wherein he is falsely charged with turning Papist, in a Letter to the Honourable Archibald Campbell. London, 1715.
The Divine Right of Episcopacy, and the necessity of an Episcopal Commission for preaching God's Word, and for the valid Administration of the Christian Sacraments, proved from the Holy Scriptures, and the doctrine and practice of the Primitive Church, together with an impartial Account of the false Principles of Papists, Lutherans, and Calvinists, concerning the Identity of Bishops and Presbyters. Also the valid Succession of our English Bishops vindicated, against the Objections of Presbyterians and Romanists. And the Popish Fable of the Nag's Head Consecration of Archbishop Parker fully refuted. By Thomas Brett, LL.D. London, 1718.
