If the non-episcopal Churches have a ministry and the sub- stance of the sacraments, along with the general truth of the Gospel, what advantage hath episcopacy? The advan- tage of a perfect over an imperfect system--of best over good and better--Of manhood over childhood, &c.—The From what source are we to derive our ideas of the official character and powers of bishops? From the Scripture, the primitive Church, and the Church of England, modified and restrained in those respects which are provided for in our constitution and canons-The theory that the bishops have no power except what our own constitution and canons give them, shewn to be in utter hostility with all episcopal prin- ciple, with the ordination office, and with the history of the American Church-Extracts from the correspondence be- tween our Church and the English prelates, previous to the consecration of our bishops. Dangers of party strife--Ten- Is it safe to commit the judicial power to the hands of the bishops? It is there already, and can be nowhere else on true episcopal principles. But the presbyters are the bish- op's council, by official right. The privilege of appeal ought to be guarantied to every one, from the judgment of a sin- gle bishop, to the house of bishops, by analogy with the LECTURE I. 1 THESS. V. 21. PROVE ALL THINGS, HOLD FAST THAT WHICH IS GOOD. 'COME unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest,' is the gracious command and sure promise of the Redeemer. And the mode in which we are to obey the command so as to obtain the fulfilment of the promise, was set forth by the Apostle Peter, on the day of Pentecost, when he said to the conscience-stricken multitude, 'Repent and be baptised every one of you, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the Holy Ghost.' Of those who heard this exhortation, three thousand converts yielded their hearts to Christ Jesus without delay, acknowledging him as the Lord of life and glory. They were baptised forthwith, and taken into communion with the Apostles; and thus was formed the Church of God under the Gospel dispensation, to which we are told the Lord added daily such as should be saved.' That Church, my brethren, still exists, to attest the truth and power of its divine Master. Compared, in the beginning, to a grain of mustard seed, it has become a great tree, with many branches. And still, those who would be saved must be added unto it, must profess the same repentance and faith, and receive the same ordinances, and hold communion with its ministry, for there is no other mode revealed whereby we may enter the kingdom of heaven. But how is this to be done satisfactorily, in our day? At first, the Church was one; the Apostles were united; yea, the thousands who were converted by their preaching, were of one heart and one soul, and no man desirous of coming to Christ could mistake the body to which he should attach himself. Would to heaven that it were so still! But, unhappily, the same depravity of nature, which, since the fall, has always striven against the truth of God, in process of time obscured, and almost obliterated the features of the Apostolic system. As the Church under the patriarchal dispensation became corrupted by idolatry-as Israel, although favored by the miraculous interpositions and recorded institutions of the Lord, fell into the same snare,so the lapse of a few centuries brought upon the Apostolic Church, a flood of superstition and of error, which rolled onwards, continually swelling to its height, under the influence of popery, until it was checked and driven back by the reformation. Then, led by the Spirit of Truth, and faithfully endeavoring to be guided by the Scriptures, Luther, and Calvin, and Zuinglius, and the martyrs of the Church of England, did, indeed, victoriously resist the usurpations and expose the sophistry of the Church of Rome. They did succeed in rescuing multitudes from the yoke of priestly tyranny, and in establishing a far purer and more Scriptural system. But to restore the primitive union of the Church of Christ was impossible. Nay, they could not even establish union amongst themselves; for although, in the fundamental articles of faith, there was a very close and true agreement, yet in the doctrine of the sacraments, in the mode of worship, and in the ministry, there were differences not capable of reconcilement. Nor was this unhappy diversity the extent of the evil; for, since the days of the reformers, the propensity to discord has increased, until it passes the learning of most men to count the variety of sects, or trace the causes of their separation. It is an unfailing ground of humble thankfulness with those who belong to the English branch of the reformation, that this grievous multiplication of schisms did not arise in the communion of that Church. Thanks be to God, that the principles of primitive order which her martyred reformers were led to adopt, remain to this hour, undisturbed by any religious commotion, firmer from every assault, and brighter from every examination. Above all, we would render our praises to his gracious Providence, that amongst the free institutions of this favored country, the only descendant from the Church of England-the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States-stands unconnected with any civil government, untrammelled by any union of Church and State, on the simple foundation of Scriptural truth and Apostolic sanction. No other foundation do we desire; no other sanction do we ask; for it was to the Apostolic Church the promise of the Saviour was given, 'Lo I am with you alway, even to the end of the world.' But although we are justified in thus disclaiming all part or lot in the dissentions and divisions of the Church of Christ, still the fact that these dissentions and divisions exist, is not the less a stumbling block in the way of those who desire to be united to the Saviour. The intelligent believer cannot help knowing, that in the variety of religious opinions he is liable to be led astray. He cannot suppose that all the sects are equally right, when he finds them mutually opposed in the bitter animosity of polemic warfare. He cannot think that the Prince of peace designed his followers to be thus divided into hostile bands, who should be held back from the conquest of the world, by their constant feuds amongst each other. And the dan |