These are the doctrines which the church sets forth in her articles, her Liturgy, and her offices, and which her ministers are obliged to, and we doubt not do, faithfully proclaim; nor can we doubt that they are also "ready with all faithful diligence to banish and drive away from the church all erroneous and strange doctrines contrary to God's word." As for those essential doctrines of the gospel, the universal corruption of mankind, the atonement made for the sins of the whole world" by the death and passion" of Jesus Christ, the unity of three divine persons in the adorable Trinity, the various and distinct offices which the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost respectively sustain in the grand scheme of salvation, the entire change of heart and life required to fit fallen man for the vision and fruition of God, and to this end, the absolute need he has for the renewing and sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit, these, we believe, are no where more distinctly acknowledged than by the Church in her articles; no where more securely guarded from heresy and error than in her Liturgy; and by no persons more diligently taught, or more faithfully enforced, than by the ministers of her communion. Are these the doctrines of the bible? Is the belief of them necessary to salvation? Shall we not, then, esteem it our highest privilege to belong to a church which so carefully maintains and defends them? It is no more a matter of indifference to what church we are attached, than it is what doctrines we believe. Our duty is to examine for ourselves, and wherever we find sound doc trine, an apostolic ministry, and pure and rational worship, we have all that is necessary to constitute a true church of Christ, and into the communion of that church, it is obviously our duty to enter. How far the Protestant Episcopal Church can establish her claims to a sound and scriptural creed, and how clearly all her doctrines may be proved from the word of God, we think has already been fully shown. In the subsequent chapters we propose to show that she has a divinely-constituted ministry, and that she enjoys a pure and primitive, a rational and edifying manner of worship. In conclusion, we have only to request our readers to give this subject an attentive and impartial examination; to test the doctrines we have been considering by that only infallible standard the written word of God, and if they be found to agree, let them "hold fast the FORM OF SOUND WORDS, which they have heard, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.” AND HE GAVE SOME, APOSTLES; AND SOME, PROPHETS; AND SOME, EVANGELISTS; AND SOME, PASTORS AND TEACHERS; FOR THE PERFECTING OF THE SAINTS, FOR THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY, FOR THE EDIFYING OF THE BODY OF CHRIST.-Ephesians iv. 11, 12. MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH. CHAPTER I. NATURE AND CONSTITUTION OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. Next to the Doctrines of the Church, her Ministry claims our attention; but before we enter into a consideration of the office and authority of those who minister in holy things, it is well to inquire into the origin and constitution of the Christian Church. The learned Archbishop Potter,* than whom no person has written more clearly and conclusively on Ecclesiastical Polity, if we except, perhaps," the judicious Hooker," has shown that the Christian Church is a regular and well-formed society; and although its members are scattered abroad throughout the world, yet they are all so united together under Christ their head, as to form " one Catholic and Apostolic Church," which we acknowledge in our Creed. They form "one fold under one Shepherd;" are "all baptized into one body;" and being subjected to one Head, they have the same laws, the same worship, and enjoy the same common privileges. Being a society of God's own appointment, it is necessary all mankind should become members of it; and whoever wilfully neglects to enter into the Christian Church, must necessarily be deprived of all the privileges which belong Church Government, chap. i. |