The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1882-04-07
Fhs Episcopal Church.
BY REV. RoBT. l.. STEVENS.

We gave some Of the Scripture pas-
sages in our last Article which proved
that over the Churches established by
tha Apostles, there was an officer or
Apostolic deputy, who hal the over.
sight Of the clergy and brethren, and
who was eventually called Tie Bishop
OF the Church in which Ls presided.
His Prssbytcrs were Also called at
tim9s Bishops but did not exercise the
powers deputed to tho Bishop. The
Prayer Books Of the Episcopal Church
aud Of the Church Of England have this
sentence prsfacipg the urdinai.
alt Is evident unto all men, dill
gently reading Holy Scripture and
ancient authors, that from the Apostles
timo there have been these Orders Of
Ministers in Christs Church. Bishops,
Priests and Dsacens Which Officers
we're eyernore had in such reverend
Estimation, that no man might presume
20 execute any Of them. exespt he were
first called, tried, examined, and known
TO have such qualities as are requisite
for the same, aud a.so by Public Prayer
with Imposition OF IlRuds, wero ap-
proved aud admitted thereon 10 by
lawful authority. Aud thtrsfor-, 70
the intent that these Orders may be
continued, aud reyerentIy used aud
esteemed in this Church, no man shall
DO accounted or taken 10 be lawful
Bishop, Priest. or Deacon. in this
Church, or suffered TO execute any of
the said Functions, except be be called.
tried, examined, and admitted there
unto, according 10 the form hereafter
following, OF hath had Episcopal Con
secration or Ordination. And none
shall be admitted Deacon, Priest, or
Bishop. excep. he DO OF the age which
the Canon in that case may require. "
From this il is evident that the
Churches in England aud Amcries,
claim the right exercised by the Angel
Of ia. Church At Ephcsua SO Try those
~ho ssy they are Apostles, aud are not. "
Rev III 2.
We shall now devUts some to the
examination Of this matter by the Light
OF history.
When a question arises n, 10 the In
depreciation Of any law OF the land, it is
settled by common practice. If there
be a diversity of practice, aud the qucs-
tion is one involving important iAsnes,
il ia net left TO private judgment 10
settle the matter, bat the history, in
tention and fist Interpretation of the
law, guilds the d..cisi a Of the judge Nud
jury. - ben decision scoorlirg Ia
Law does maaif~tt Injustice. ihsre - an
appeal TO equity. Tie Christina
Church is society as drI'endolt Hfon
law Al Is the civil community: this il
briefly referred To iu paper V Of Fet
2ith. Before divisions among Christians
had made headway, a threefold minis
by was the universal practice, and
when the question srese among ths
brethren as TO the lawfu!nsss. OF Episco
pal authority, even il thsy 50 road the
Scriptures as 70 Ora y from them aIgu
meats al to an equality Of orders, wa,
it not a violation Of every l.r.aciple d
law aud equity, 70 condemn EpiscopacY
as popish, while the scriptures and
history both bore testimony as to it,
truthl While an equality OF orders 1,
at best an inference, only plain to those
who will not listen to any texts o
Scriptures unless they favor their pecu
| liar views.
A, those who tried To overthrow th,
Scriptural character of E!liscopscy, die
so by ignoring the force Of passages re
ferred to ia the previous pxpers, they
have attempted in the same way tC
ignore or destroy the credit of the wit
nssses TO the practice of the early
Church. To these witnesses everJ
Christian to-day is indebted under
Providence for his faith, aRd whateve
light er comfort of love he derives frou
the Scriptures. 1t was the wo,k o
tho earl, Church t. gather and guar,
the writings of tho Apostles, and
faithfully did the martyrs snl con
fessors Of this period do their daty
When tho in6dsl makes the assertion
that the New Testament writings wsr
the product of later age, we turn t.
the writings Of these saints and show
right that the scriptures we're il
existeaca because the minis
ters of the early Canr,h quo
them. Il isa fAvocite msthol witt
some persons to assert the integrity O
the Scriptures because their iRterna
evidence marks them as the word O
God. They rest theie faith on thei
capacity to recognize the voice Of th
spirit speaking to their hearts
they want no better testimon,
to truth of the Scripture statement
than the Scriptures themselves. Thi
method of argument has confirmed tn
doubts of many seeking the truth, an
made them in6dols. To rational me
it must be an absurdity to ask them t
accept as the truth of God whatevs
will not bear the closest and most il
telligent historical investigation. Th
truth is that every question, of dectrin
or discipline in the Christian Chnrct
has O history. One sided Christia
denominations accspt somo but rejsc
other books of Scripture on their ia
ternal evidence and private judgment
The New Jerusalem Church reject
soma of S.. PAul's writings and othe
Scriptures on thu private i'iasmsnt Q
their founder. Other sceSs d. not bI
believe the Bible to be inspired, and i
this way endless cD,fusion ARISES b
leaving the region of fact for that {
fancy. W. ask did the Church receiv