The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-05-05
Episcopacy in the Reformed
Episcopal Church.

from the truth, that the doctrine of the
apostolic Succession shapes the poktV OF
the p. e. Church. What it is to-day, it
is because of that doctrine-and that by
inevitable necessity For, if that doc
trine be true; if follows that, outside the
Episcopal Church, there is no valid min
istry; no valid saeraments; and no COW
enanted grace In other words, the P.
E. G. is the Church-and all the others
are "sects"
And what is the doctrine of Apostolic
Succession? What is it, that would 90
through Christendom working such fear
full havoc as this?
1t is, that Bishops are the Successors
of the Apostles; conveying, by the lay
ing on of hands, the grace first impaired
to them; and thus perpetuating their
Office, as thing of divine authority.
Now, If thiS IS true all the results we
have just named, follow, by the most log
zeal necessity. There is no such thing
possible as stopping short of them There
is no point where we can halt, midway,
between the doctrine, and the conclusions
to which it leads. In the language of,
C An Open Letter to Bishop Stevens"
by Presbyter of the Diocese of Penn
sylvania, on another subiect-"Mr. Sam
uel Patch might as we'll have resolved,
when he made his last leap that he
would jump only halfway do,on the tor
rent of Niagara I''
Now, that doctrine is the starting
point. If we jump from that, we must
land on that conclusion. We, therefore,
of the Reformed Episcopal Church avoid
the conclusion, by refusing to take the
leap. In other words, aOe deny the doctrine
altogether
We deny that Bishops are the Success
sors of the Apostles The Apostles had
no Successors They were of special ap-
pointlnent by Christ Himself: were en-
dowed with special powers; and must
have seen Jesus Christ our Lord, and
been eye-witnesses of His Majesty. ="
Their office therefore, ceased with them
and we may search in vain, for even the
slightest intimation in the New Tesla
ment, that their Office was perpetuated in
the Church.
We deny that the Episcopate-or the
office of Bishops of Apostolic institu-
ton; and affirm that it was adopted by
the Church, after the Apostles. Does
not every student of the New Testament
know, that the term Bishop, was applied,
at first, to all Presbyters and afterwards
was confined to higher grade Of minis
tiers? Cali the historic notices of the
Episcopate show first, that it rose out of
the Presbyterate; and was not the Apos-
tolate continued. -Lighttoot.
And Bishop White, in his Case of the
Episcopal Church Considered, says
The opinion that Episcopacy was the
most ancient and eligible, but 1O5thou ana
idea of divine right IN the case, the author
believes to be the sentiment of the great
body of Episcopalians in America; in
which respect they have in their favor,
unquestionably, the sense of the Church
of England
Now, this is exactly the doctrine of the
R. E. Church And therefore, in her
Declaration of Principles" she AYERS
that
"This Church recognizes and adheres
to Episcopacy, not as Of DiUiae right, but
as very ancient and desirable form of
Church polity."
And what is the consequence of this?
Why, that she stands in "the old paths
OF the P. b. Church, in her best and
purest daysl That she is that Church,
Purged of the corruptions that mar her
beauty; paralyze the right arm Of her
strength; dim the singleness of her eve
of faith; and distort her views of the
truth, for which so many of her Children
have yielded up their lives E!cactZy
1Ohere that Church stood, in this matter
when Cranmer sought the aid of eminent
non-Episcopal divines in formulating the
Articles of her Faith, we stand to-day
We acknowledge the ministry of all who
hold the One Lord, One Faith, One Bap-
tism." We believe their ministry equally
valid with our own; their sacraments as
truly sacraments; and their Churches, as
essentially Churches as ours. We rejoice
in the grace bestowed upon them; and
stand, hand to hand, and shoulder to
shoulder, with them around the Cross oil
our common Lord.-THe Covenant (orpan
! of the r. E. Church.