The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-11-24

and no more than is contained in the Form of Gov
ernment of the Presbyterian and other Churches
(See Form of Government, chap. viii, sec. L.
But this is not the way Bishop DOane and others
understand it. To the question" How can l
hear the church," his reply is, Hear the Church
in her ereeds, and the DEGREES of her four or SIX
general councils, or, more compendiousy still, In
her Book of Common Prayer" ITO one and ALL
then, unearned, not less than learned we say, with
admirable Dr. Hook" Ia Puseyite,) "in taking the
Prayer Book for your guide to the right under
standing of Scripture-the whole Prayer Book
Creeds, Catechism, Articles, Baptsmal office, Of
fee for the Eucharist, office for the ordainlng OF
Bishops, Priests, and Deacons-you take for your
guide the conSeatent UOice Of the universal, prlml-
tive Church" All this MEANS to use the language
of DR.. Boardman (Apostolcal Succession p. 24O,)
that, 1.-The Prayer Book is the exponent OF Gath
Ole Tradition. 1t utters the eonsentient voice OF
the universal primitive Church" 1t has an au-
thority Independent of Scripture which it derives
from Christ, through the Church, and on the
ground of which it is to be received as essential
part of the rule OF faith. Weare not to interpret
it by the Bible, but the Bible by it. The Prayer
Book is the Primary the Bible the secondary
source of the true faith.
That is what the Rev. Morgan Dix, of Trinity
church, n Y, and others OF his numerous party are
now teaching. He says: Divine, or as It'll called
Catholic Faith, is gift of God, and light OF the
soul, illuminated by which a man assents, fully and
unreservedly to allwhich Almighty God has reveal
ed and which he proposes to US By has Church to be
believed, whether written or un1oritten Man
ual p. 8O)
Again: "a General Council lawfully assembled,
freely celebrating, and guided by the Holy Ghost
is the only final authority on questions touching
faith, Up. AL Is not this natural outgrOwth
of the doctrine of the Prayer Book which rests the
whole evidence for its ministry upon Holy Scrip
ture and ancient authors?' If"aacient authors, 4"
are not above they are made coordinate with "Ho-
y Scripture, and thus the Protestant doctrine on
this fundamental question of the rule OF faith is
effeetually poisoned at its fountain head. In con-
6rmation of what has been said about the Prayer
Book teaching this grievous error there is this re
markable fact which ought to be known more than
it is The ConUocation of 1871, under Elizabeth
has canon, which commands preachers ito be
careful never to teach any thing in their sermons
as if to be religiously held and believed by the PEG
pie, but what is agreeable to the doctrine OF the
Old and New Testament, and collected from that
uery doctrine By the Catholic Fathers and ancient
Bishops" Our impression is that this is still a
part OF the law of the Episcopal Church in Eng
land and this country, Be this as it may, it shows
very clearly what the doctrine then held really was
The rule of faith thus laid down in the Prayer
Book is "HOly Scripture and ancient authors -
Or, in other words, Scripture as explained By ira.
ditioa That is the rule of faith now held by
thousands and thousands IN the Episcopal Church,
And that doctrine is RomdRiSm!
But more on this subject again.