the Apostolical and divine institution of Episcopacy; yet, he had some how or other a way of satisfying himself, that the want of Episcopal orders renders a church only irregular and unsound; but does not invalidate her ministry. Upon this point, unanimity among Episcopalians, cannot reasonably be expected.

I shall now conclude with the testimony of the learned historian, Mosheim. Of the church of England, he says, "It constantly insisted on the divine origin of its government and discipline."*

* Eccles. Hist. vol. ii, p. 231.

LETTER XV.

REV. SIR,

I SHALL continue the consideration of your train of arguments in support of your assertion, that the reformers of the church of England were Presby terian in principle.

I think that I have already said quite sufficient to show, that you are very far from being correct in this assertion. But as you endeavour to support it, by other arguments, it is expedient, if not necessary, for me to canvass every thing material that you have said.

You observe, that "an act of Parliament was passed in the 13th year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, to reform certain disorders touching ministers of the church;" and that "this act was framed with an express view to admitting into the church of England, those who had received Presbyterian ordination, in the foreign reformed churches, on their subscribing the articles of faith."* That there was an act passed in the 13th of Elizabeth, to reform certain disorders, &c. is true; but that it

* Letter vi. p. 225.

was with "an express view of admitting into the church those who had received Presbyterian ordination," does not appear at all from the act. You ought, Sir, to have given your readers that part of the act which relates to the present subject. It runs thus: Be it enacted" that every person, under the degree of a Bishop, which doth, or shall pretend to be a Priest, or Minister of God's holy word and sacraments, by reason of any other form of institution, consecration, or ordering, than the form set forth by Parliament in the time of the late King, or now used in the reign of our most gracious Sovereign Lady, before the feast of the nativity of Christ next following, shall, in the presence of the Bishop, declare his assent, and subscribe to all the articles of religion-and shall bring from such Bishop, in writing under his seal authentic, a testimonial of such assent and subscription-upon pain that every such person, which shall not, before the said feast, do as is appointed, shall be, (ipso facto) deprived.”*

From this act it is evident, that the case of the foreign Presbyterian churches, and the validity of ordination by Presbyters, were not at all contémplated. There is not a syllable said about either. It speaks indeed of those who pretended to be Priests by an ordinal different from that of King Edward's; but by that was principally, if not exclu

* Gibson's Codex, p. 396, and Sparrow's Collection, p. 118. VOL. II.

E

sively meant, such as were ordained by the Popish ordinal. But what a valid ordination is, the act does not say. We must have recourse for that to the preface of the ordinal, which expressly makes Episcopal ordination the only lawful mode. The act does not say, that all who were ordained by Presbyters, or in any other manner, should, upon subscription, be allowed to hold livings in the church. That would have been a direct contradiction of the act passed in the reign of Edward; and, therefore, such an extension should not be given to it.

Let it further be considered, that it was the avowed doctrine of the church throughout the whole reign of Elizabeth, that Episcopal ordination was of divine appointment, and then it will be evident, that the act in question could not have been designed to indulge, under the specified condition, those who had received no other orders but Presbyterian.

To confirm your opinion, that this act was intended to comprehend those who had received no other orders but Presbyterian, you observe, " that Dr. Strype, an eminent Episcopalian, informs us, that this act was framed with an express view to admitting into the church of England, those who had received Presbyterian ordination in the foreign reformed churches, on their subscribing the articles of faith."

You ought, Sir, in order to give your readers a correct view of what Strype says, to have given us

"It con

his own words. They are as follows: cerned all such persons as pretended to be Priests and Ministers of God's word and sacraments under the degree of a Bishop, by reason of any other form of institution, consecration, or ordering, than the form set forth in the late King Edward's time, and now used in the reign of the Queen. Meaning, undoubtedly, to comprehend Papists, and likewise such as received their ordination in some of the foreign reformed churches, when they were in exile under Queen Mary. From this it is evident, that Strype did not mean to comprehend all the reformed churches. He expressly says some of them; most probably the churches of Sweden, Denmark, and Bohemia. By the church in Bohemia is meant the reformed church in that kingdom, which was deemed Episcopal.

Notwithstanding these, in my judgment, decisive observations, with which I can hardly suppose your are unacquainted, (for they are not new) you proceed thus: "The conduct of the English reformers corresponded with their laws and public standards. They invited several eminent divines from the foreign reformed churches, who had received no other than Presbyterian ordination, to come over to England; and, on their arrival, in consequence of this formal invitation, actually bestowed upon them important benefices in the church, and in the uni

* Annals. Reform. lib. i. chap. 7. An. 1571.