Anonymous on Article XXXVI: Of Consecration of Bishops and Ministers

1. The Consannten, Onlination, and Government of the Church by Aechbishops, Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, hath no- thing in it that is superstitious and ungodly : For Bishops are conise- crated that they may perform the Duties of Bishops ; and-as Priests and Deacons are ordained to officiate in their Places, the same Power that consecrates and ordains them, gives them Authority to perform those Duties, and to officiate in that manner: And as we declare there is nothing superstitious or ungodly in their Consecration and Ordination, there can be nothing superstitious or ungodly in the Ex-

ecution of their Office, whilst ’ they keep steddily to the solemn Promises they then made according to that Book or Form of Conse- cration and Ordination. I shall therefore show that the Governthent of the Church by Archbishops, Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, hath nothing in it self Superstitions or Ungodly ; That they are to be consecrated and ordained, or to be set apart for their great Employments; And that the Form of Consecration and Ordination prescrib’d in our Church, contains all Things necessary for that Purpose. 371

1. This Article presupposes, That the Government of the Church by Archbishops, Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, hath nothing in it self Superstitions or Ungodly. For it is evident, that Bishops suc- ceeded the Apostles in that eminent Care and Conduct of the Church; that they had many Priests, or Elders, and Deacons, under their Dire&ion and Disposal ; and that as in every City there was a Bi- shop, so all the Priests and Deacons that officiated in that City, or the Suburbs and Jurisdiction of it, were under that Bishop , and obliged to be governed or directed by him. Therefore Ignatius charges the Church at Smyrna in these Words, Tlavlec, Gg . All x of you follow (or obey) the Bishop, as Jesus Christ his Father ; * and the Presbytery (or Priests) as the Apostles ; and Reverence the Deacons, as the Command and Ordinance of God“. And again to the Magnesians ; “Qomee zy, G. As our Lord did no- „thing without his Father, being one with him, neither by him- self, nor by his Apostles : So neither do you any Thing without your Bishops and Priests ; neither do ye try to do any Thing “ apart, or upon your own Heads; but for this very Thing, let there be one Prayer, one Intercession, one Understanding, one Hope in Charity, and Joy undefiled , or unblameable”. And thus to the Phzladelphians , Tu E qwroc, Oc, © Ye therefore that are the Children of the Light and Truth, fly (or shun) Di- « vision and evil Doctrines, and where the Pastor is, there do 2

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« follow as Sheep: For many Wolves, who seem to be worthy of Article < Belief, lead captive those that were hastening (or running) to XXX VI. * God, by an Evil Pleasure (or charming Discourse. ) As many a???

“ are belonging to God, and Christ Jesus, they are with the Bi- * shop; as many as are penitent, keep to the Unity of the Church, ce and become the Inheritance of God”. And that ye may know, that what Ignatius says, was exactly agreeable to the Will of the Lord Jesus, and his Apostles, he tells the Smyrneans, © That he * {aw our Lord himself, after his Resurrection, in the Flesh, and „believed him to be true”. I might mention St. Cyprian next, who declares, * That Bishops are the Apostles Succeslors, that they « are invested with a Divine Power, and that Heresies and Schisins * arise, when they are slighted and despised” : But these Testimo- nies are enough for my Purpose, to show that Bishops had the Go- vernment of the Church from the Beginning; and this was fo manifest, that Hereticks aped the Church in this Point, and were sollicitous to have Bishops of their w mn. „„ Acrchbishops, indeed, were not so soon known by that Name; but their Eminency seems to be admitted soon after the Apostles Days; for when a Bishop was so successful in his own, and his Presbyters Ministry, as to convert at too great a Distance a numerous People, he divided his Charge into more Hands, and Consecrated other Bishops, to take a more immediate Care of the Flock; retain- ing to himself, and-his Successors, the Cognizance of Causes of Ap- peal; and by reason of his Eminency over those that were delegated from him, he was called Archbishop, or chief Bishop, under whose Inspection, the other Bishops ruled the Flock: When Emperors be-

came Christian, they changed the Bounds of Archbishops and Bi- shops Dioceses , as stood most with the Conveniences of the Empire; the Bishops enjoying the same Power they deriv’d from Christ, with- out Molestation. _ 3 bo gn.

2. Bishops, Priests and Deacons, are to be consecrated and or- dain’d, or set apart for their great Employments by the laying on of Hands, and calling upon the Spirit of God for his Assistance, ac- cording to the Custom of the Church ; Archbishops and Bishops are to be consecrated by two or more Bishops, the Priests and Dea-

cons are to be ordained by a Bishop, and two or more Presbyters : No Man may take this Office upon himself, unless he is called ; and those the Church looks upon as called, who, for good and weighty Reasons, are offered to be consecrated or ordain’d in this primitive Manner. In the first Times, which succeeded the Apostles, no Society, or Congregation of Lay-men, though never so much di- stinguish’d from others by Parts, Attainments, or pretended Purity, might take upon them to lay Hands upon, pray over, and send

others to the Work of the Ministry ; and no Elders or Priests, with-

out the Concurrence of a Bishop, may ordain others to succeed them in the Ministry : St. Paul ordain’d and consecrated Timothy; Timo- thy, as Bishop, was to ordain others, and is charg’d to be cautious

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Article XXXVI. „ gp”

1 Tim. by 22.

how he did it, that he might not lay on his Hands suddenly, or without Consideration, and repent after he had done it: In Imitation of Him and the Apostles, and by that Right convey’d to them by the Apo- stles, the Bishops of the Christian Church, have consecrated Bishops, ordained Priests and Deacons, and the Ministry is continued to this Day amongst us. And would Men hearken to Reason, attend to the Apostolical Examples, and yield without Prejudice to Truth; this

Primitive Order might be preferv*d, and secur’d against all the wild

Inventions of mistaken Zeal, and the conceited and proud Usurpa- tion of difcontented Presbyters ; and in the room of so many Intru- ders into the Church, we should have none but truly Primitive and Christian Pastors. Lay Hands suddenly on no Man, neither be Par- taker of other Mens Sins; keep thy self pure.

3. The Form of Consecration and Ordination, contains all Things neceflary for that Purpose, and there ts nothing Superstitious or Un- godly in it; the Bishops are solemnly commended to the Grace of

God by Prayer; are then strictly and particularly examin’d, con- cerning their Intentions in taking upon them that great Work, and

their real Design in executing their Charge, and are as much bound by solemn Promise, in the Presence of God to be faithful, as the

Wit of Man can conceive or direct; and then the Archbishop, and

Bishops, lay their Hands upon his Head, and the Archbishop says

to every one, © Receive the Holy Ghost for the Office and Work

of a Bishop in the Church of God, now committed unto thee by

e the Imposition of our Hands, irt the Name of the Father, and of “ the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. And giving him the Bible, adds, Give heed unto Reading, Exhortation and Do- […] The Priests also are carefully examin’d, as to their Abilities, and obliged to bring sufficient Testimonials of their good

and pious Behaviour; and upon their Ordination, are strictly and

very solemnly question’d in all necessary Points; and being tied up by the strictest Vows, to instruct the People out of the Scriptures, to oppose Errors, to be instant in Prayer, to live piously and pea- ceably, and to obey their ordinary, are devoutly commended by Prayers to the Grace of God; the Bishop, with the Priests present, laying their Hands upon their Heads, the Bishop says to every one, * Receive the Holy Ghost for the Office, and Work of a Priest in

the Church of God, now committed unto thee by the Imposition

of our Hands; whose Sins thou dost forgive, they are forgiven,

and whose Sins thou dost retain, they are retained ; and be thou

e a faithful Dispenser of the Word of God, and of his Holy Sacra- * ments, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the „ Holy Ghost. Amen”. And then the Bishop delivers the Bible to every one of them, saying, © Take thou Authority to preach the * Word of God,”. The like is done to Deacons, so far as their Office requires. As this is our Form, there is nothing Superstiti- ous or Ungodly in it; and our Adversaries cannot but own, that since the miraculous Gifts are ceased, it’s as safe and Christian a Me-

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thod of conserving the Ministry, as human Prudence can appoint : Article Lam sure it is fat beyond the Impulse of 2 private Call, or the Up- XXXVI. start Lay-[mposition of Hands; and as agreeable to the Apostolical AA Pattern, as the distance of Time will allow. Neglect not the Gift 1 Tim. 4. 14. that is in thee, which was given thee by Prophecy, with the laying on

of the Hands of the Presbytery.

II. All such as are consecrated Bishops, and ordain’d Elders and Deacons in this Manner, are rightly, orderly and lawfully conse- crated and ordain’d; they have all that is necessary to be ap- 7 to them, in order to fet them apart for the Work of the Hinistry, and are to be reputed, as they are in Reality, Christian Bishops, Christian Priests and Deacons; and it is no less than a Violation of Order, a Contradiction to the Primitive Establish- ment, and a flight put upon God’s Ambassadors and Messengers, when any of their Flocks throw off that Subjection that was due unto them, difown their Authority over them, withdraw from their Communion, and set up and unite to others in their Stead, to the great Grief of the truly Pious, and Disturbance of the Church of Christ, Would we attend to Scripture, consider who succeeded the Apostles, what a Multitude of Bishops were Martyr’d and Slain, and how some of our own, who had a Hand in composing our Ferm of Consecration and Ordination, were burnt for Religion; we need not wander or seek for better Ministers, or a better Church, or safer Communion, than what at present we do enjoy; for our Bishops, Priests and Deacons, are according to the Primitive Way; our Church also has the same Apostolical Doctrine and Government, and our Communion 1s with the Father, and the Son, by his Holy Spirit; we are as well provided for, as any Church upon Earth, enjoy as much saving Truth, as the Christians under the Apo- stles, as proper and Christian Guides, as Timothy and Titus sent ; .and would we hold fast our Principles, and walk according as we are taught, would we live in Union and Peace, love as Christians, | bear with one another as Brethren, and all endeavour from the Heart, to serve the Lord Christ, we might be as happy and safe as any Church in the World. That which we have seen and beard, 1 John 1. 3,4 declare we unto you, that ye also may have Fellowship with us; and truly our Fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ ;, and these Things write we unto you, that your Joy may be full. From this Account of the Article, I shall give you the Opinion of a foreign Presbyterian concerning the Government of the Church; though those at Home will not sub- scribe to this Article : Show how that the Prejudices against us, up- on the Point of Episcopacy, are unreasonable ; Direct you to be obedient to those that are over you in the Lord; and intreat you to take care, that ye live as ye are directed by them.

x. I think it proper to give the Opinion of a Foreign Presbyteri- an, concerning the Government of our Church, that ye may see 5 | | how

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how the Force of Truth will prevail, where neither secular Interest,

XXXVI. nor Prejudice are concern’d It 1s the Judgment of M. Le Clerc now-

A+ living, who faith, „ have always profess’d to believe, that Episco-

« pacy is of Apostolical Institution, and consequently very Good, « and very Lawful; that Men had no manner of Right to change it

in any Place, unless it was impossible otherwise to reform the A-

© buses that crept into Christianity ; that it was justly preserved in England, where the Reformation was practical, without altering * it ; That therefore the Protestants in England, and other Places % where there are Bishops, do very ill to separate from that Disci- “ pline; that they would still do much worse in attempting to de- « stroy it, in order to set up Presbytery, Fanaticism, and Anarchy. Things ought not to be turn’d into a Chaos, nor People seen eve-

© ry where without a Call, and without Learning, pretending to

• Inspiration. Nothing 18 more proper to prevent them, than „the Episcopal Discipline, as by Law established in England; espe-”

< cially when those that preside in Church Government, are Persons

4 of Penetration, Sobriety, and Discretion *. Thus he commends

our Establishment, whilst those amongst us will not so much as sub-

scribe to this Article, which maintains the Validity of our Ordinati-

on. And one may wonder how a Man that writes thus openly, can

«+ I2, . | which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admo-

forbear to throw off Presbytery, and to join with Episcopacy. I cannot well reconcile his Practice with his Words, without borrow- ing a Distinction from his own Sagacity and private Sentiments. He knows what St. Paul says : We beseech you, Brethren, to know then

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2. By this ye see, that the Prejudices against us, upon the Ac- count of Episcopacy, are unreasonable. For the Man that stands by, and is able to judge fairly of our Principles, declares for us, and owns Episcopacy to be Apostolical. And would others be as calm and unbyass’d in their Judgments, they must be of the same Mind; for we submit to those which Christ hath appointed, and the Apo-

stles sent. And can it be a Crime to be obedient unto them, or unto

_ those that are sent by them for the Work of the Ministry, and for

the Salvation of Souls? Or are we mistaken when we follow

those, which, like Ignatius and Polycarp, receiv’d the Care and Government of the Church from the Apostles, and laid down this Life for the Flock? Or are we to blame if we use the same

Prayers, and remain steddy in that Communion, which Bishop

Cranmer, Ridley, Latimer, and Hooper join’d in, who died at a Stake for the Truth? Can Episcopacy be Antichristian, which had such faithful Servants of Christ engaged in it? Or is the Name of a Bi- shop intolerable, when such Martyrs, and abundance of Confes- sors, with a Cloud of Witnesles, supported and maintained it, as

truly Venerable and Christian 2 What though the Bishop of Rome hath

abus’d his Name and Power; the Name is not the worse, nor is the

Power abominable, because so basely prostituted. Prayer hath been

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as much abus d before Crofles, Pictures, and Images; shall we not

Article

ehtrefore pray to the Living God? The Gross hath been as much XXXVI.

abustd ; it huth been employ d upon Holy Water ; and Bells have

bern adored hid worshipped: Shall we not therefore trust in a cruci- ed Saviour, and rely upon his Blood for Forgiveness, that died up- er the Cross’? Though therefore Episoopacy hath been turn’d into Acclesiastical Tyranny, it is good in its proper Sphere, and may be exetcised amongst us, according to the Primitive Pattern, for Edifi- cation and Peace. This is a true saying, if a Man defireth the O, fice of a Bishop, he desireth a good V. = 4

1 Tim. 3. 1.

3. I must direct you to be obedient to those that are set over you

in the Lord, and to yield to their Christian Advice, as to that which

is appointed by your Saviour for your Safety. If they reprove and awaken the Conscience, be not angry, but consider that they are Four Friends, and wou’d thus rescue you from the Power of Satan : f they check and rebuke when ye happen to be overtaken with a Fault, be not high-minded and scorn what is said, but fear him that authorizeth them so to speak ; if they exhort and encourage you to go forward in Virtue and Piety, be not heedless and flothful, but re- ceive the Words as if they sounded from Heaven, and labour to grow in Grace, that your Reward may be greater at the last Day; and if tlie comfort the Weak, support the Feeble, raise up them that were fil. len, speak a Word in Season to any, be not unmindful of their Office, but yield up your selves to the Grace of God, to be reclaim’d and strengthen’d, to be supported and advised, to be encouraged and set forward by them in Duty, as by the Ministers of Christ, and Stewards of the Mysteries of the Gospel : And though whilst we thus speak, we plead for Respe& for our selves, which looks

oddly in the Sight of the World ; yet since the Growth of Religi-

on depends upon it, and our Office is despis’d ; since too many fo-

ment an Aversion against us in the People, and study to alienate

their Affections from us; we are bound to speak for our selves, when thereby we plead the Cause of God, and must demand your Obedience, when his Honour, and his Authority is concern’d therein. Obey them thut bave the Rule over you , and submit your selves ; for they watch for your Souls, as they that must give accoum. _ |

4. I must intreat you to take care, that ye live as those that are instructed and directed by them; this will turn to your Bene- fit, and to their particular Joy. Ye will be built up in your most

Holy Faith, improved in Righteousness, and wait for your Lord with Comfort; and they will have the comfortable Pleasure

of beholding your Christian Behaviour , and will give up their

Account with Joy, and not with Grief. Let it be your Care to improve under their Ministry , to amend when they reprove, to take heed when they rebuke, to remain faithful as they ex-

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248 An EXPOSITION of the

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Article hort, that your profiting ma appear unto all Men, and your XXXVI. inward Peace may be great.

ut if uy oy not our Words, but — slight, scandalize, mock, and cast empt upon us and our Work, they hasten their own Destru&ion, and endanger others.

2 Cor. 2.15, For we are unto God a sweet Savour of Christ, in them that are 16. saved, and in them that peris ; to the one we are the Savour 0 The

of Death unto Death, and t other the Savour of Life unto Life. And who is sufficient for these Things ?

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