LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SAXCROFT. 37 



the validity of the ministerial functions in the 

 church in possession, but merely a separation, 

 on grounds purely civil and temporary in their 

 nature, which only affected those who had 

 taken the oaths to the former sovereign, not 

 others who were to succeed them. It was one 

 thing to refuse to hold an office, civil or eccle- 

 siastical, under a sovereign to whom, while 

 another sovereign lived, they felt they could 

 not conscientiously take the oath of allegiance ; 

 but it was quite a distinct consideration, whe- 

 ther they ^should deliberately pronounce the 

 church established under that sovereign, to be, 

 on this ground alone, not a true church ; an 

 opinion which alone could justify them in setting 

 up a rival communion against it. However, it 

 does not become us to judge dogmatically, or 

 to censure \vith too much harshness, in a matter 



senters 3 for this purpose, a commission of divines was ap- 

 pointed under the great seal, to consider the matter and pre- 

 pare a scheme to be laid before the Convocation. The Convo- 

 cation, however, were hostile to the measure, and nothing was 

 done. On this Bishop Burnet remarks, (vol. ii. p. 30 — 34.) 

 that herein was a happy direction of Providence : for the Jaco- 

 bite clergy were at this time contemplating a schism in the 

 church, and \A-ished to be furnished with some specious pre- 

 tences for that purpose 5 if therefore alterations had been made 

 in the Rubric and other parts of the Common Prayer, they 

 would have contended that they stdl stuck to the ancient church 

 in opposition to those who were setting up new models. 



D 3 



