LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SANCROFT. 3 



by a series of illegal measures of government, 

 broken the compact between himself and the 

 people, and having abdicated the throne, the 

 high authorities of the state, acting in the name 

 of the v^hole nation, had a right to transfer the 

 sovereignty to another; and that, v^hen this 

 was done, and the oath of allegiance to the 

 former sovereign declared by the power which 

 imposed it to be no longer binding, the subject 

 was in conscience absolved from adhering to it. 

 But, allowing that he formed his conscience by a 

 mistaken rule, it admits of no doubt, that, when 

 he had so formed it, he was bound, as a sincere 

 and honest man, faithfully to adhere to it, and 

 steadily to act upon it. He did so act, not with 

 hesitation and reluctance, but with a prompt 

 and vigorous and steadfast decision ; not looking 

 back with weak and fond regret to the high 

 station from which he had fallen, but glorying 

 in the part which he had taken ; clinging to his 

 humble fortune with a relish of more true satis- 

 faction than he appears ever to have derived 

 from his elevated condition ; and, above all, 

 raising his desires from earth to heaven, and 

 looking forward with firm but humble hope to 

 a sure recompense in another world, for those 

 sacrifices which he made to conscience and to 

 duty in the present. 



It fortunately happens, that a few of his let- 



B 2 



