The colored American., 1900-12-08

oUU years aICeT IL was IOunOeQ. Inc
Old Testament is the document of the |
jewish Church, that Church having |
been in existence for 1000 years before |
Its document was completed. There
for this Church of the Acts can not
be set aside for one claimed to be found
ed upon the Bible.
For three hundred years, then this
Apostolic Church existed with A postol'
ic doctrine, ministry, sacraments and
prayers before she gave the New Testa'
ment to the world with her certificate
that it was the inspired Word of God.
The Episo opal Church,of America as
the daughter OF the Church OF En-
gland has ever possessed and does now
possess and hold nost sacred. these
four marks that identify her unmistak.
ably with the primitive and Apostolic
Church, as a true branch of the same.
First. AS TO doctrine tnis Church
holds and defends the pure teaching of
the early Church, without taking from
or adding to the same. There are few
indeed who would question this.
| The Holy Trinity John II Is, 20;
Acts 50; Gal. 48
The Incarnation of Gods Son Luke
So; John IA; Matt. %.
| The Redemption of man by Christ
Jesus Matt. 121; 20 %; Gal LA.
Regeneration IN Holy Baptism Tit.
3 5; Rom. 6 4; Gal 27
The Holy Communion Matt 2e 26
%; Mark IA % "a; Luke % 10, 20
/ GOp al @. Hoh
| The Resurrection of the deao Luke
l4.14; ohm 1l23
| The Judgment Acts 1871; Heb. 8 q.
| Belief In these statements and other
fundamental teaching of Holy Scripture
ls in accord with the mind Of the ApOs
tolic Church.
Secondly. As to the unbrOken line OF
Bishops, Priests aDd DeacOns, who
have succeeded for more than eig hteen
IcenturIes otner ministers periodically
ordained, that has been most jealOusly
guarded and maintained by the Epis
copal Church:
| There may be some who have never
given any study to the Apostolic Sue
cession of ministers in the Church
founded by Christ. No one could well
doubt the fact or deny the doctrine
who had patiently investigate the mat
| ter. Inc new 10SIau10EC Is ltScll WIZ
ness to the fact that the Apostles ap'
pointed others to do Apostolic work
and to be their successors; at least
|, thirty Apostles are mentioned in the
| New T astament Among them were
Paul, Matthias, Barnabas, AndrOnicus,
Silas, Luke, Titus, whom st. Paul APP
pointed Bishop of Crete, and Timothy,
!. whom he appointed Bishop of Epnesus;
there were also at least ten others whose
names are recorded, space does not per-
NIT us to mention.
i Now, If the original twelve could have
!, IeIghteen Successors, certainly they
could and have had q continuous line
of successors down the centuries. The
Titles OF the three orders Of the ministry
NAV. at first, mislead the unlearned.
Gl n the New Testament the high
: est order were Apostles. The second,
: "ordained in every city," were pres
byters. (presters or priests), also called
bishops, and the lowest order deacons.
As the Apostles began to die off, the
/ title "Apostle" was limited to them
. and their successors who had probably
: seen Christ, at the same time the title
Bishop was set apart to denote the
highest order which succeeded the
original Apostles. This is stated by
/: Clement of Alexandria IN the second,
land Jerome in the fourth century.
While TheodOret in writing 44O says:
"Tne same persons were In ancient
times called either presby tiers or
I bishops. at which time, those who are