men. Of these, says the writer, "one made no long delay to declare for the Church of England: another, like the scape goat, was sent packing into the wilderness of Popery: and a third, if of any communion, has wandered into the same broad way. These were some of their first fruits and early triumphs."[1]
Brett, who went with Collier, admits that the majority were against any alterations, alleging that they had no authority to recede from the public Liturgy. He does not vary from the preceding account: but he adds, "Finding that their brethren would by no means join with them to make these alterations, they saw a separation was unavoidable:" Brett argues, that the communion could not be received unmaimed according to the Liturgy of the Church of England: and Collier proposed, in his Vindication of The Reasons, the restoration of the four points, with a view to prevent a separation. "However," says Brett, "our brethren thought it not proper to comply with these proposals, whereby the schism became unavoidable." Brett admits that The Nonjurors were now reduced to a very inconsiderable number, but he hopes that the Clergy of the Church of England will feel themselves concerned in the matter.[2]
Having concluded that separation was unavoidable, Brett tells us, that they composed the new Commu-
- ↑ Mr. Collier's Desertion Discussed, pp. 184—190.
- ↑ A Collection of the Principal Liturgies, Used by the Christian Church in the Celebration of the Holy Eucharist: particularly the Ancient, viz. the Clementine, as it stands in the book called the Apostolical Constitutions: The Liturgies of St. James, St. Mark, St. Chrysostom, St. Basil, &c. Translated into English by several hands. With a Dissertation upon them, shewing their usefulness and authority, and pointing out their several corruptions and interpolations. By Thomas Brett, LL.D. 8vo. 1720. pp. 359—62.
