Episcopacy Tested by Scripture; Ed. by J.M. Rodwell. to Which Are Appended Five Essays, Extr. from the Bishop's Controversial Writings in Connexion with the Above Treatise - Softcover

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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1840 Excerpt: ... ministry be evaded? can such conformity be, in this case, refused in foro conscientiae animoque integro? The above remarks, if allowed their due force, will greatly simplify the controversy before us, and will help us to investigate the bearing of Scripture, upon it, with a clear judgment and an unsophisticated love of truth. Let then all extraneous topics be now forgotten; let none of them again make their appearance in this discussion. II. Proceeding to the second department of our essay--an exhibition of the scriptural evidence relating to this controversy--we begin by stating the precise point at issue. Passing by the feeble claim of lay-ordination and a lay-ministry, which, we suppose, will scarcely pretend to rest on either scriptural command or example, we consider this issue as between two systems only, Episcopacy, and parity or the presbyterian ministry.w Parity declares that there is but one order of men authorized to minister in sacred things, all in this order being of equal grade, and having inherently equal spiritual rights. Episcopacy declares that the Christian ministry was established in three orders, called, ever since the apostolic age, Bishops, Presbyters or Elders, and Deacons; of which the highest only has the right to ordain and confirm, that of general supervision in a diocese, and that of the chief administration of spiritual discipline, besides enjoying all the powers of the other grades. The main question being thus concerning the superiority of Bishops, and the rights of the next order being restricted only so much as not to be inconsistent with those of the highest, we need not extend our investigation of Scripture beyond what is requisite for this grand point. If we cannot authenticate the claims of the Episcopal office, we wil...

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