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embrace the impious position that a Bishop is a true Bishop, though a heretic, and the most wicked of men! And all for what? Why merely to keep up the figment of Episcopal Ordination and Succession. Indeed this is inevitable on the scheme of Episcopacy, jure divino. If this perishes, they suppose their Christianity perishes. IT MUST PERISH, on their scheme, or come through the hands of the MORAL MONSTERS of Rome. Hence these impious positions are joyfully embraced to defend it.

Lastly. These authors say that no ordinations but such as are performed by Succession Bishops, are valid and divine. This also with them is a necessary consequence. Thus Bishop Taylor: "Without (the offices of Episcopacy,) no Priest, no ordination, no consecration of the Sacrament, no absolution, no rite, or Sacrament legitimately can be performed in order to eternity." Episcopacy asserted, p. 197.

But

Dr. Hook says, "You will observe how important all this is which I have now laid before you. Unless Christ be spiritually present with the ministers of religion in their services, those services will be VAIN. the ONLY ministrations to which he has PROMISED his presence is to those of the BISHOPS who are SUCCESSORS of the first commissioned Apostles, and the other clergy acting under THEIR sanction and by THEIR AUTHORITY.” "I know the outcry which is raised against this—the doctrine of the Christian Church for 1800 years-I know the outcry that is raised against it by THOSE SECTS which can trace their origin no higher than to some celebrated preacher at the REFORMATION. BUT I DISREGARD IT, because I shall by God's help, continue to do, what I have done ever since I came among you—namely, declare the whole counsel of God, without regard to consequences or respect of persons, and at the same time, as far as in me lies, live peaceably with all men." Two Sermons, p. 10; and see Dr. Hickes on the Christian Priesthood, &c. pref. 194.

Here the Reader sees the main features of this System. A system supported by a large number of learned and influential Divines in the Church of England since the time of Archbishop Laud. It has lately been revived by the Authors of the OXFORD TRACTS for the Times, Dr. Hook, Vicar of Leeds, &c. This doctrine is the ROOT of all their ERRORS and POPISH proceedings. By such a Scheme as this they FORGE a CHAIN to BIND HEAVEN AND EARTH, GOD AND MAN, to the ACTS OF PRIESTLY ARROGANce. Allow the above doctrine, and though Satan and his host incarnate should become ordained by succession Bishops, yet no ordinances but such as they administer have the promise of Christ, but are all vain! This scheme of Anglican-Popery will be seen to have a little variation in its machinery from Roman Popery, but they are both animated by the same genius, and both terminate in the same consequences. The reader will not regret to see, in the commencement of this Essay, the opinions of two celebrated foreign Protestant Divines on this subject: the one, of the Lutheran

Church, and the other, of the Reformed French church.

Chemnitius,

a greatly admired Lutheran Divine, in his admirable Examination or Confutation of the Council of Trent, says, "By this measure, they" (the Papists) "endeavoured not so much to reproach our" (the Protestant) "churches, as at one stroke to give a mortal stab, and to destroy them from the foundation. In their clamours by which they labour to establish this point, they contend, that in our churches is no true and legitimate administering of the sacraments, that God by our labours will give no blessing, no pardon, no remission of sins; that we can have no true sacrament of the body and blood of Christ; that all our ministers are thieves and robbers, not having entered by the true door" (of Apostolical succession) "into the Sheepfold. An atrocious denunciation indeed! And they give no reason for it but this, that the ministers of our (Protestant) churches, are not called, sent forth, ordained, shaven and anointed by Popish Bishops"— Part 2, p. 421, fol. Genev. 1634.

Now it is clear that there is a perfect identity in the matter urged against the Reformers by the Papists, and that urged by high Church of England Clergymen against all Protestants who have not Episcopal ordination. If they have not ventured to be so bold in their denunciations, we can easily see the reason. They know the full consequences, boldly declared, would, with many Protestants, even in the Church of England, work as an argumentum ad absurdum: the absurdity would produce reaction. They therefore, generally, throw it out to work upon weak, credulous, unsuspecting, or bigoted minds.

Claude, in his able Defence of the Reformation, says, " And to speak my own Thoughts freely, it seems to me, that that firm opinion of the absolute necessity of Episcopacy, that goes so high as to own no church, or call, or Ministry, or Sacraments, or Salvation in the world, where there are no Episcopal Ordinations, although there should be the True Faith, the True Doctrine, and Piety there; and which would that ALL RELIGION should depend on a FORMALITY, and even on a Formality that we have shewn to be of no other than Humane Institution; that Opinion, I say, cannot be lookt on otherwise then as the very worst character and mark of the highest Hypocricy, a piece of Pharisaism throughout, that strains at a Gnat when it swallows a Camel, and I cannot avoid having at least a contempt of those kind of thoughts, and a compassion for those who fill their heads with them."-Part IV. p. 97, 4to, ed. London, 1683.

C

SECTION II.

THE STATE OF THE GENERAL QUESTION.

Having exhibited a general view of the doctrine of Succession as taught by these high Churchmen, it may now be proper to clear our way by giving the true state of the Question.

The Succession Divines maintain,

1. That Bishops are, by DIVINE RIGHT, an order superior to, distinct from, and having powers, authority, and rights incompatible with Presbyters, simply as Presbyters:

2. That this order of Bishops are the SOLE SUCCESSORS of the Apostles as ORDAINERS of other Ministers, and GOVERNORS both of Pastors and People :

3. That this Succession is a PERSONAL SUCCESSION, i. e. it is to be traced through an historical series of Persons, transmitting in an unbroken line this Episcopal order and power to the latest generations:

4. That no Ministry is VALID, except it have THIS Episcopal ordinanation, and that ALL ordinances and sacraments are VAIN, except they be administered by such Episcopally ordained Ministers.

Now we deny every one of these positions. And we shall shew,

1. That Bishops and Presbyters are, by DIVINE RIGHT, the SAME ORDER; and that Presbyters, by divine right, have the same power and authority as Bishops: That ORDINATION by Presbyters is equally valid with that of Bishops; and consequently that the Ministry of all the Reformed Protestant churches is equally valid with that of any Episcopal church:

2. That Presbyters are as much the SUCCESSORS of the Apostles as Bishops are:

3. That a SUCCESSION of the TRUTH of DOCTRINE, of FAITH and Holiness, of the Pure Word of God, and the Sacraments duly administered, is the ONLY ESSENTIAL Succession necessary to a Christian Church:

4. That all are true Christian Churches where such a Ministry and such ordinances are found.

This being the state of the question, the PROOF of their own propositions lies upon the Succession Divines. Their proofs must be scriptural, clear, and strong. This is evident from the interest of both parties. The interests of the Succession Divines and their followers require such proofs. They venture to suspend the validity of their own ministry and ordinances, and the WHOLE CHRISTIANITY of all THEIR PEOPLE upon this doctrine; what wretched apprehensions then must they have except their proof be

scriptural, clear, and strong. The interests of other Christian Churches require this. The result of this doctrine, they are aware, is, to excommunicate all the other Protestant churches of Europe. He that attempts this should shew cause why he does it. His own character requires this; this is necessary for the conviction of the offenders, and for the satisfaction of the public. Bishop Taylor, and some others, have attempted it; we shall examine their attempts. Dr. Hook, indeed, is unwarrantably arrogant and insolent upon the subject. He says, amongst other arrogant things, in his Two Sermons on the Church and the Establishment, "It is very seldom that the CLERGYMAN of the Parish feels it to be worth his while to enter into controversy with the dissenting teacher. He knows HIS SUPERIORITY, and that he has nothing to gain by the contest," p. 21. Now this is not so meek,—first to excommunicate you, and then to insult you for asking the reason for this sentence. "He knows his SUPERIORITY, and that he has nothing to gain by the contest." Indeed! what no justification for this tremendous sentence? What, then, has he something to lose here? Truth always gains; error and evil deeds only lose by the light. Dr. Hook may possibly find he has something to lose, if he has nothing to gain. It is a common trick with the Papists to be the most confident where they have least proof. They know many of their deluded followers will exercise an implicit faith in their assertions. This will do-Reasoning would possibly lead many to doubt-perhaps to do more. "Tis wise in such a cause to

Why not? you have

avoid it, and to treat your adversary with scorn. "nothing to GAIN" by the controversy. Dr. Hook, however, has favoured us with the outline of his scheme and argumentation. These we shall notice in their place.

Now though the proof, as we have said, lies upon these assertors of this Personal Succession scheme; and though no man ought to be required to PROVE A NEGATIVE; yet as they are shy of their proofs, and in their stead give the world their important ipse dixits; and as their bold assertions may trouble many, an exposure of the baselessness and futility of these assertions may be useful. Let the Reader remember, that if we can only shew that a reasonable "doubt" lies upon this scheme "it is damned." If we shew more; if we shew every proposition to be doubtful;—yea, more still, every proposition to be BASELESS and FALSE; then the whole fabric falls to the ground.

SECTION III.

NO POSITIVE PROOF FROM THE SCRIPTURES OF THESE HIGH CHURCH CLAIMS.

We will proceed to examine the scriptural proofs adduced in favour of these High Church claims. Bishop Taylor has granted, (what every Protestant ought to insist upon,) that, except they have clear, SCRIPTURAL grounds for these claims, the attempt to impose them on the church of God would be tyranny. "Whatsoever was the regiment of the Church in the Apostles times that must be perpetuall (not so as to have all that which was personall, and temporary, but so as to have NO OTHER) for that, and that ONLY is of Divine institution which Christ committed to the Apostles, and if the Church be not Now governed as THEN, We can shew no Divine Authority for our government, which we must contend to doe, and doe it too, or be call'd USURPERS," p. 41, Episcopacy Asserted. So says Chillingworth in his immortal declaration. "The Religion of the Protestants—is the Bible. The Bible, I say, the Bible only is the Religion of Protestants! Whatsoever else they believe besides it, and the plain, irrefragable, indubitable consequences of it, well may they hold it as a matter of Opinion; but as matter of faith and religion, neither can they with coherence to their own grounds believe it themselves, nor require the belief of it of others, without MOST HIGH and MOST SCHISMATICAL PRESUMPTION."-Chap. 7, Sect. 56.

I ought to caution the reader on one point here—it is this, that he will not blame me if I do not bring forward any such arguments produced by these divines, out of the Sacred Scriptures, as their cause might seem to demand. All I can say is, that I know of none such; and therefore I cannot produce them. I promise him I will produce the best I have any where found urged by the advocates for their scheme.

Their first argument is taken from the Commission of Christ to the Apostles: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." Matt. xxviii. 19, 20. So Bishop Taylor, Sect. 3, and Dr. Hook, p. 3, 4. It would be waste of time to quote their attempts to manufacture an order of Bishops from this commission, as the SOLE rulers and ordainers of all other ministers to the end of the world. There is not a syllable about DISTINCT ORDERS of Bishops and Presbyters, &c. The whole commission plainly belongs EQUALLY

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