New-York daily tribune., 1844-02-10

:
descendants of the Apostles This is the reason
ing To make it good. it must be shown tina
Pfeiates have inherited the character ana
Poaoer a7ita ,cdieh the Apostles 1oere cxpressl,
'nccSted; that their relations 10 the Curch or.
the same. Let US test the matter BIZ a Question
or two. % The Apostles were the inspired
teachers Of the world; but what evidence of IN
splralon Short of loud claims of inallibilitv OF
'1ndefectibility do the Pre!ates of Rome. Eng.
land or America give Again % The Apos.
ties were empowered to communicate miraculous
gifts, (see Mark XVI Il, lS) gifts. of healing. the
| power CT speaking with unknown tongues, &c
but what Prelate with the exception of a few
! hy-favored individuals in the Papal body, who
have appealed 10 "lying wonders wrought by
them can tell OF disease cured, sight restored,
fractured limb healed, or discourse in an un-
known tongue delivered By any of those upon
whom they have laid their hands Again ~
The Apostles wrought miracles themselves thAy
could drink any deadly thing without harm, &c.
&c. but what Prelate would be hardy enough
to try the experiment upon himself. OF taking a
dose Of poison Prussic acid would be, doubt
not, as fatal to Or. Doane as TO Dr. WAINWRIGHT
Again O. The Apostles were The ovcrsee1s of the
whole Church, having received pcnafy powers to
preach, baptIZe, hestow miraculous gifts ordain,
and direct ordination, not for limited district or
| diocese, but for the known world bat what MOD
ern Preiate has ventured to claim such an extcn-
sve jurisdiction, If we except the Prelatcs OF Rome
who alone, IN thus particular, claim their full
inheritance of the Apostolic character? Again
o. the Apostles were especially set apart as liy-
ing WitaeSSes of the resurrection; they were par
ticularly characterized by the fact that they had
seen the Lord. This can be shown, by dozen
references to Ser pture, TO have been one of the
marked pcculiarities and duties of their Office.
But what modern Prelatc can IN this, any more
than in miraculous endowmcnts, establish his
claim to g the signs Of an Apostle -
These common sense contrasts establish the ab-
sn7dity Of resting the claims Of any ministry
whatever upon the assertion of its inheritance Of
the Apostolic authority. Tie apostles had no
successors, except as they were Christian men,
and ministers of the word. They organized
Churches of Christ wherever they went; they
established ministry; and whether that minis
try consisted of three orders or only one, (Which
is a distinct question: it was assuredy not the
depository of Apostolic powers.
But this is not all before we consent 10 &C.
knowledge our modern Prclates, or prcsbyters, as
the linea descendants OF these legatcs of Heaven
we must have some explicit Scripture to prove
but proof positive can Justify such a claim. If it
be not an undoubted claim it deserves no better
name than absurd arrogance
And what Scriptures, reader do YOU suppose
are referred to by our Apostoical successionists
These are tie best they have" L0 am 1cHh
you QLi3Gqs, cuen unto the end Of the vorid."
Answe--Does Christ then restrict this promise
to the Apostles, and prelatcs their successors Is
he pledged to be Nth no other Are other
Christian teachers 10 have no share in the pro-
mise Again as my father dath sent me, even
so send gou.' Answer--Does this sending im-
ply the necessity OF llneaisuccesslon And has
he sent none but prelates And are Prelates sont
in the same sense as Christ sent the Apostles
Again, l appoint unto you kingdom as my
Father hath appointe9 unto me- Answer-Such
place and authority in the kingdom Of Heaven,
the Church, was bestowed upon the Apostles
alone, as the inspired and mracuousIy endowed
lawgivers OF his Church, in which respect alone
could they be said TO be placed "upCn thrones
Judging the twelve tribes of Israel"
Now, | ask, does it not require all the gravity
which q grave subject demands to prevent ones
lifting the lash of ridicule against such prcten-
sions. supported by such appeals to the word of
God?
Finally, upon this point, let US remark that the
p4uciv of Scripfurdt arguments is fully admitted
by the staunchest advocates of this mysterious
Apostolical succession, ! viii let some of these
gentlemen give us q specimen or two or Their
views Of the Scrip,ural argument for the doctrine
'.no Church without Preates.'' or as 1t ought to
read, e" without Apostles
Tins Mr. Kebc (on Tradition, p, 96) says
''The succession itself is-"A mystery, and OF
course lett as all mysteries are, in some respects
dlmlv revealed l. in the worlds language, vague
and "ndstinct'' He argues that tradition alone
can prove the doctrine.
In Tract No Sc, the writer says ofthese doc
trines. if the Episcopal and prestly succession
have in them something divine, as channels which
convey. as il were, his presence to us-we must
expect TO find in them something that hideth It
sef-surrounded with difficulties to the carnal
mind Withdrawing itself, &c
In Tract No. s, the writer says, there IS no
part Of the ecclesiastical system which IS not
taint!y traced in Scripture, and no part trhlch IS
mach more thar family traced.'
By another of these writers, sit is granted
that the divine night Of Episcopacy, the APostoI-
cal succession, the powc. of the Church, &c. are
wanting in direct or satisfactory proof, and are to
be established, if at all, only by the aid of very
attenuated and nicely managed lnicrentlal aTgu
ments." Every one must allow that there Is
next to nothing on the surface ofscripture about
them, and very little, even under the surface, OF
satisfactory character" &c.
need quote no more. Let it be remarked
that these are admissions made by men who rely
mainly upon tradition, but vino would gladly have
seized upon Scripture arguments, II they could
have come at them.
What, then, shall we say to dogma whose
buttresses are so rotten2 What is the worth OF
q pedigree, the proofs of which are 50 :. atten-
uated !? :" Who can fail 10 admire the INFINITE
sell.complacency with which lis Claimants are 50
full that they fear not to walk abroad, even IN