Page:History of the Nonjurors.djvu/283

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History of the Nonjurors.
265

is an account of the various papers, of which it consists, by the publisher: from which it appears, that soon after the deprivations, Hickes entered upon certain conferences with a Serjeant at Law respecting the recent events, especially with reference to Church communion. The Serjeant puts a question, whether it is lawful to communicate with a Church, that prays for an usurper, which is answered in the negative. Hickes even condemns being present in such congregations: alleging, that, if it were lawful to be present, it would be necessary to protest publicly, against what he calls the rebellious prayers. He further declares, that if any Bishops are deprived by such powers, the people are bound in conscience to adhere to the sufferers. The Serjeant asks whether a public refusal to own the usurper be not sufficient: but Hickes decides as before against being present at such assemblies, and condemns remaining on the knees, though the individuals join not in the petitions.

In another Letter, the Author submits to the Serjeant forty propositions concerning the Constitution of the Catholic Church, observing that they are laid down in a mathematical method, "wherein what follows is the consequent of what goes before." Church power of the most exalted kind is asserted in these propositions: that kings cease to be members of the spiritual corporation by excommunication, heresy, or apostacy: that in divisions the lawful society is in the lawful head, and the members who adhere to him, though the smaller number, and in every diocese in the rightful Bishops as the principle of unity: that kings obtain nothing by baptism, but a stronger obligation to defend the Church, and that they are equally subjects of the Church: that the