New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-17
JOINT COMMUNION.

WITNESSES.
70 tAs Bdttor OF The Trfo"ht.
SR: In two communications WHICH
.ately appeared in your journal, am mentioned
~.,s,s ,h h.v. stased that for considerable peiiou
after the Reformation, persons who had opn - a.,
non Eni,copal ordination were Admitted W a. .s 80
the English Church, objection peiis n'u ~. s,~ |
a,dtv Of these orders. As the corree'"es - 49,, !
a,on 4. aireotly impugned by the heV pr piu'l' Oh"
= ,,or ,s a historical one Of some interest ana
.or .oo that ne ed not provoke sectariah aspefi'
hep leave TO offer vindicacon OF the uu'u y, ''o
statement which your correspondents mas oaneu 40
question. ,r,,.-,.,,r y, |
.h fact mat the founders of the Anglican Church IN the
xn,On Of Henry VIII, Edward VII, and Elizabeth
ranmer and his associates, Jewel and the EhSaoethan
Bishops and divines Of his timedid not hold TO the
Irs dirno theory Of Episcopacy That IL TO say they
ala not consider bishops, meaning class elevated above
presbyters essential 10 the existence of achurch, and
shey did not regard Episcopal conservation as indis-
ensabe 70 the exercise Of the functions and preroga
ayes Of the Christian ministry. On the contrary they
looked upon the Protestant ministers the Continent
On the Lutheran Church and in the Reformed
Churches Of Switzerland, France. and Holland
IS on o perfect equality with Themselves with re-
gard 20 clerical rights and qualifications. Differences
among the Protestant Churches on the subject OF
che Eucharist but 10 controversy about epseopaey
sa that age there none When Cranmer called emil
nent dyines from the Churches OF the Continent to help
him compose formulares OF the Anglican Church. and
70 train the ministers in England at oxford and Cam
bridge this exceptional act, but In keeping
with his ayowed principles and constant pracuoe NO
one who acquainted with Cranmers opinions, can sup
pose that the circumstance that Martyr and Bueer had
once taken orders in the Romsh Church. had feathers
elehtin determining invite them TO England; any
more than ike Influenced him in the case OF John
Knox who made Chaplain in ordinary TO Edward VIZ
was for several years as preacher In the
North OF England, offered the parish Of All
ND a1lV
who was the companion Of Bucer and Martyr had been
minister in Germany made such, Of course, without
Episcopal cOnsecraon and 1t is not true that he was
called merely to teach the Hebrew language at Cam
bridge az a Jew might teach. He was 20 expound the
Old Testament beginning with the propAet Isaiah, and
he was welcomed from the beginning by Cranmer as an
intimate counselor and friend. That Fsgu minister
of high standing in Germany, would have accepted
sueh an appointment from those who denied bis right
70 exercise the ministry Is something quite neredlpe
Cranmer went far 70 declare. in written docu
Inent l64O that conservation OF bishops or priests
Is necessary for election appointing thereto is
sufficient" Burnet. l. H., Collection of Records, Ad-
denda ID That Cranmer referred to ordination and
not TO institution merely made perfectly clear by the
name document. Tbs voumnous correspondence
OF the eminent English divines and reformers,
which has been published principally from the
Archives OF ZuricR must convince every candid person
who examines IL that suspicion OF want OF validity
On the orders of the Hevec minister's whose advice
they 70 frequently sought and whose hospitality they
enjoyed ever entered their minds. No man who has
read example the numerous letters Of Bishop Cox,
. warm defender OF the English Liturgy against the
PuritsDs 6uater the sonnlaw of Zwingle-his be-
loved Rodopb," Cox styles him-will have the
efrontery to affirm that the English Bishop looked on
his Swiss friend and adviser who had DO right TO
the functions OF the ministry In the last days
OF Edward VI, Cranmer corresponding with Calvin,
Buiinger and Melsnchthon IN order to bring together
general synod of the Professionals where platform Of
doctrine might be made, in which their disagreement
respecting the Lords supperthe only serious point of
erence-nigh be adjusted. There is no trace Of the
exclusive, Jre dirinO theory of Episcopacy In the
writings OF Cranmer Parker, Grindal, and Whitgft the
nrst four Protestant ArchbishOps OF Canterbury.
whether Bancroft preached 1t in his sermon
at Psurs Cross, Is still controverted point.
Eallam maintains that he did not. a That
this theory, which, IN its logical consequences would
'unchurch" the other Protestant religious bodies and
dcredt the orders OF their ministry does not appear
until the time OF Hooker, granted by Kebe IN
elaborate prexed TO bis edition OF Rockers
writings 1t certainly sounds strange TO hear Kebe all
whose prepossessions were on the side Of the High
Church doctrine. charged with error for ooncedng
what II the evidence in the had not required, he
would surely have been very 10th TO admit But Kebe
had carefully and thoroughly explored the historical
question, as his essay abundanty shows.
The opinion of Protestants of the English Church IN
tbe sixteenth century this subject closely con-
nected with other facts which deserve special aten
dion. The first the prevailing doctrine at that time
that Bishops do not constitute distinct order in the
ministry but that Bishops and presbyters different
grades ofthe came Office. This common view in
abe Roman Catholic Church IN the middle ages
since an ecclesiastical arrangement was thought
60 have the force OF an fhstitpto d,UiHa. The
miracle Of the Eucharist being the highest act
which the clergyman could perform and this being open
70 priest IL plausbly argued that there be
no order ministers above him. This ground taken,
by pope Urban H. aud is sanctioned by the most
orthodox OF the schoomen. Those who curious to
see the proofs of thus statement may be referred
3ieselers Church History. lam. ed, l., p o. NJ The
same respecting the medieval opinion 10 proved
work which has always been held In high honor by
Epseopaans, Fiedss Treatise the Church (B. III,
e. s9) Cranmer subscribes to this old opinion OF the
original and essential identity OF the Office of bishop
aud that OF presbyter. he held that "in the New
Testament there Is mention made Of any
degrees or distinctions IN orders but emily Of deaeons
ministers and OF priests bishops" Thirteen bishops
with great number OF other ecclesascs. subscribed to
this proposition. see Burnets Collection OF Records,
Hi, XIII Bishop Jewel Of the great lights OF the
English Reformation, in his celebrated "Defense" OF
the Church Of England aud In his apology" took
other ground. He falls back the doctrine that
"bishOp greater than presbyters by order and
tom OF the Church and not by the truth OF Gods ord
nance" tJowels Writings, Parker, sec. ed, L. D. s79)
This is the explicit doctrine OF Dean Field, IN the
sage which have just referred.
The second circumstance which II is important 10
notice. the prevalent belief ia the system Of national
churches and the adoption by many, OF the Erastian
theory Of the supremacy Of the civil magistrate In eccle
slAstica affairs The first Reformers IN England were
of this mind, and the English Reformation effected
under this theory Calvin opposed It, and fought out
The battle at Geneva behalf of the right OF the church.
by its organs, 10 erc0mmuncate unworthy MEM
gWtna In Cts nm var