Page:History of the Nonjurors.djvu/287

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History of the Nonjurors.
269

sion, is not sufficient. He argues, too, that consecrations performed by one Bishop, when more cannot be obtained, are valid. The want of public registers had also been alleged; but this objection is met, by a reference to the state of things from 1640 to 1660, during which period many were ordained by the deposed Bishops, and also to the Church of Scotland at that time. Bp. Ken's non-concurrence in the new consecrations was also pleaded against their validity: but Hickes answers, that a synod is composed of the majority of the Bishops of the province, and that the minority, however large, are concluded by their decision. His assertion that Ken had consented by letter to Turner has been previously noticed. He contends, that the rights of the deprived Bishops could not devolve on those, who were in possession of the sees, and whom he calls intruders. He strongly urges, that the allowing of lay-deprivations and resistance is a heresy, which he charges upon what he terms the revolution Church. The publisher, however, in the preface, says, "wherever in this book he shall find schismatical ordinations called null and invalid, he is not to suppose that the author meant null and invalid in themselves, so as to require a new ordination, but null and invalid as to any spiritual purposes, so that the person thus schismatically ordained cannot by virtue of those orders do any sacerdotal act, till he returns to the Church, and has his orders confirmed: and whatever ministrations he performs during his schism are of no use or profit to the persons who receive them, till they also come over to the Church." The publisher states: "Whenever he performed that part of his episcopal office of receiving a penitent schismatical Clergyman into our communion, he never required that he should be