IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) II 1.0 I.! Li 128 ^ u m ■12 t m Ih £ b£ \ 12.0 1.25 1 1.4 llllls^ 1* 6' — ► <% yw w % ^ "4 0^7^ Kiotographic Sciences Coiporation 23 WrT MAIN STREET WEBSTER, rj.Y. 14SS0 (716) •72-4S03 W^ CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICIVIH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques 4 '» rl Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibiiographiques The lnsls de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-Atre uniques du point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvont modifier une image reproduite. ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la methods normale de filmage sont indiqu6s ci-dessous. I I Coloured pages/ \/ □ Pages de couleur Pages damaged/ Pages endommagies Pages restored and/oi Pages restaurdes et/ou peiiiculdes |~n Pages damaged/ I I Pages restored and/or laminated/ Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ Pages d6color6es, tachet^es ou piqu«^,es □Pages detached/ Pages d^tachdes SShowthrough/ Transparence Transparence Quality of prir Quality in^gaie de I'impression Includes supplementary materia Comprend du materiel suppldmentaire Only edition available/ Seule Edition disponible I I Quality of print varies/ □ Includes supplementary material/ C I I Only edition available/ to Th P« of fil Oi b« th si( ot fir si« or Tt sh Tl wl M dil en bfl rlj rei mi Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to ensure the best possible image/ Les pages totniement ou partiellement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, etc., ont 6t4 fiim6es A nouveau de fa^on d obtenir la meilleure image possible. This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est filmd au taux de reduction indiqu6 ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X 30X I y 1 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X >>ls lu difier me age The copy filmed here has been reproduced thank* to the generosity of: Library of the Public Archives of Canada The images appearing here are the best quality possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in iceeping with the filming contract specifications. L'exemplaire film* f ut reproduit grAce it la gin6rosit6 de: La bibliotheque des Archives pubiiques du Canada Les images suivantes ont 4tA reproduites avec le plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et de la nettetA de l'exemplaire filmi, et en conformity avec les conditions du contrat de filmage. Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last p&ge with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en papier est ImprimAe sont filmte en commenpant par ie premier plat et en terminant soit par la derniire page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second plat, salon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont filmte en commenpant par la premiAre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la dernlAre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol ^»> (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Un des symboles suivants apparaltra sur la dernlAre image de cheque microfiche, seion le cas: le symbols ^^ signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbols V signifie "FIN". Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams iiiustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre filmAs A des taux de reduction diffirents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul clichA, 11 est fiimi A partir de I'angle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n6cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants iliustrent la mAthode. ata Btlure, 3 ax 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 O N APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION. B Y REV. WALTER WINDEYER, PASTOR OF THE REFORMED EPI8C0PAL CHURCH, ST. JOHN, NEW BRUNSWICK. M?' DOMINION OF CANADA. ■*#P* ■^^ PHILADELPHIA: JAMES A. MOORE, PRINTER, Nos, 1222 and 1224 SANSOM STREET. m 7 6 . 1 "A Ltfii- ■i^i-u^^l,'i.^-6s:^lJS,r-, 1.,^'tS'tki I *,5-i*]^ / APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION. And with these sayings scarce restrained tliey the people, that they had not done Stecrifice unto them.— ^r<« xiv, 18. It may be thought an ungrateful task, when the ministers of the Gospel do not, in some instances, enjoy that respect which they ought to receive, to attempt to ff '^srogate from the authority which may be imputed to them. But such is the glory of the everlasting Gospel, that it is supported only upon truth. It is equally injured by enthu- siasm on the one hand, and by contempt on the other. It must therefore be the wish of all true Christians that its ministers be viewed in their just light. That the ministers of the Gospel are despised by many, is no evidence that they are not esteemed too higlily by some. The persons in our text, who were scarcely restrained from paying divine honors to two of this character, soon after this denied they were honest men, and stoned one as unworthy of life. Now, this conduct, in both instances, was from the same principle. The people, in their applauses and persecu- tions, were influenced by idolatry. In the beginning of our subject we are informed that Paul and Barnabas, being persecuted at Iconium, went to Lystra and other places in Lycaonia ; that while at Lystra there sat a man impotent in his feet, who had never walked ; that Paul said with a loud voice, " Stand upright on thy feet,'^ and he leaped and walked ; that the people, on seeing this, said they were gods, and called Barnabas, Jupiter ; and Paul, Mercuritis ; and that the priests of Jupiter brought oxen and garlands to the gates of the city and would have done sacri- fice with the people; which when the Apostles, Barnabas 4 APOSTOLIC SirCCESSION. and ^aul, heard of, they rent tlieir (dothes, and ran in anionpf the people, crying out, " Sir^i, wliy do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with 3'ou." And then they de- clared unto them their office and doctrine; and with these sayings. Scripture ohserves, " Scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them." Xot only persons in lieathenism, hut those who profess the faith of the Gospel, have, in many instances, paid too high a deference to the ministerial character. Thus, Cornelius, who was a devout man and approved of God, from not being suf- ficiently acquainted with this character, fell down at the feet of Peter, and worshiped hira. But Peter took liim up, say- ing, " Stand, up ; I also am a man." And the Apostle John (though the instance be not exactly within the limits of our subject, yet, as it confirms the fact, it may be mentioned), who in a vision saw and heard many things, fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed him these things. But the angel said, ^^ Sec thou do it not, for lam th>/ fellow-servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them that keep the sayings of this book : worship God." From every consideration, and from every example, it ap- pears to be the daf>/ of ministers themselves, when persons, either from ignorance or partiality, entertain too exalted an opinion of them, to correct the iiiistake, and to entirely refuse the undeserved honor; but more especially when it implies idolatry. Our subject will lead us to consider when the ministerial character is viewed in too exalted a lifirht. As I design to vindicate the Christian Church from the errors of the present day, I would confine myself more par- ticularly to two observations : — Ist. It is an erroneous opinion of the ministry to suppose that any order of men now in the Church of God are suc- cessors of the Apostles. 2d. That it is an erroneous idea of the authority of a minister to suppose that he has any other power to forgive sins than by the preaching of the Gospel. I will state first, my brethren, that, with me, you are some- ri APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION. 5^ times conscious that a sentiment is erroneous, witliout i.loarly perceiving tlie reasons of the fallacy. As tlie mind in each, case is desirous of receiving satisfaction, and as the proposi- tions hefore us are of great importance, let us consider the reasons upon whicli they rest: — 1st observation. That it is an erroneous opiinon of the ministry to suppose that any order of men now in tlie Christian Church are successors of the Apostles, is, it may be thought, a deviation from our subject; since, to suppose that any men are successors of the Apostles, is not to think that they are divine. But to exalt a person in one degree above the station in which he is placed, is to err in tavor of exalting him to the highest degree; and particularly in thiL case, as tlie persons who assert that they are successors of the Apostles, maintain that they are in similar senses the suc- cessors of Christ ; therefore, their pretensions may be viewed in the light of requiring homage from men. Omitting at this time the argument which is often adduced against there being a succession of Apostles, from the con- sideration that there is no power in the Church of God to consecrate an Apostle, which is evident in the instances of Matthias and Paul, I would observe : That it is pleaded, as a reason for the succession of this otfice, that Timothy was ordained Bishop of Ephesus, Titus of Crete, and Epaphro- ditus of Phillipi. It is said that these persons were invested with apostolic powers, because there is mention made in some instances of their being superior to Elders or Presb}-- ters. But this argument proves they were not invested with Apvystolic powers; for the evidence that they were superior to Presbyters is not so certain as that the Apostles were superior to them. For in those passages in which their pretended right to control Presbyters is asserted, the apostolic right of the Apostles to control them is exercised. Thus the Apostle Paul says to Timothy, " Receive not an accusation against an elder or presbyter, but before two or three witnesses." Here the command is positive, ^^ Receive not;'' whereas, the duty enjoined with respect-to the character of an elder, whether he were a deacon or an equal, may be « APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION. disputed. Paul, in writing to the Pliillipians, says: "I supposed it necessary to send unto you Epaphroditus, my brother and compatiion in labor, but your apostle " — which is translated messenger. Here is a name opposed to abso- lute authority. lie is called brother., companion and apostle; and yet Paul sends him; '■^ I supposed it necessary to send." Could Timothy, and Titus, and Epaphroditus be equal in office with Paul, and yet Paul be allowed to dictate to them; to command them doctrines, to direct their mode of conduct, and even determine the jilaces in which they should labor? Ratiier, is not this just the mode in which the bishops of the present day control their clergy? If those, then, who they pretend are successors of the Apostles were thus under the direction of the Apostles, they were no more apostles than their clergy are bishops. If Timothy and Titus were not equal to the Apostles, it cannot be imagined that any are. Further : That the Apostles have no successors is evident from their being acknowledged by those who pretend to be their successors to be their apostles. What bishop is there, as high as he has ascended, who does not think himself confined to the directions of St. Paul, equally as was Timothy ? What bishop is there who does not take the writings of that Apostle as the theme of his exhortation, and enforce what he inculcated? This is not the way in which we treat our equals. Why are not their own assertions doctrines^ if St. Paul were not superior to them? He wrote his epistles in the character of an apostle; many of them are prefaced with this title. In governing themselves by the doctrines contained in the epistles, they acknowledge St. Paul to be their apostle equally with those to wliom he wrote. How^ then, can they pretend to be his equals! Again : That the Apostles have no successors, will ap- pear, if we consider that there is no place on earth for a diocese which is not occupied. In Scripture, mankind are divided into two classes, Jews and Gentiles. Each of these has apostles. We know that the Twelve were the Apostles of the Jews, the only Apostles; for they shall sit on twelve thrones and judge them. It is APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION. likewise said that Paul is the A^ ostlc of the Gentiles. Of\ what Gentiles? If of those only who lived in his genera- tion, why/ is not this mentioned? If he be not the Apostle of all the Gentiles in all ages, irhy have his writings that au- thority in our churches ? Wliy do we receive the Epistles, and directions which he wrote to his own diocese as equally indispensable to us? Why do not we neglect his writings, and receive the will of God from our own bishops only, if St. l*aul be not our Apostle? If iSt. Paul be the Apostle of lis and of all the Gentiles, and if there be a complete pro- portion of apostles for the Jews ; where is there any room for a bishop who claims .ipostolic succession ? Further: That the apostles have no successors will ap- pear from tfie consequences of allowing the idea. To say that the apostles have successors is to say that they have the right of ordination; and consequently all who preach the gospel without their license, or attend upon this ministry, are schismatics and heretical. And what is this but saying that the whole Church of Christ on earth (the only part of it which is immediately corrujit, the Papal Church) IS schismatic and heretical? There was a time when the power of the Pope »vas scarcely disputed, and when there were few ordinations, if any, but what were performed by him. The churches which, after this, dispersed from him he excommunicated. And there is no church on earth but his own which does not lie under the censure of his bulls. The Protestant Churches were excommunicated so long ago that all the present officers in those Churches received ordination after the decrees of the Pope, and from those whom he had excommunicated. And if the power of the Church to revoke be equal to that of confirming, then the ordinations in the Protestant churches are void, and all those Churches are schismatic. But this the Anglican Church will deny. They will say that a power which, was justly given cannot be unjustly taken. That if their bishops were properly authorized, there was no reason for their being divested of their power, and that the excommunication of the Pope was of no avail. This m are willing to allow. But this concession does not '1 8 APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION. r^mcihj the evil as it respects the Christian Church at large. For it' tlie bisliops of the Anglican C/luircli arc successors of the Apostles, then those wlio dissent from them, and did not "^eceice ordination from a papal Bishop, are intruders into the office, and scliismatic in tlieir denominations. Let us trace tliis sentiment in the various brandies of the CHiristian Clmrch, and see the proitriety of it. Let us, tirst, apply it to the Society of Friends, a denomina- tion which is the most opposed to Episcopacy of any of the Christian Church. For while the Anglican Communion, more than any other, looks upon the mode as essential, th" Friends, more than any other, look upon it as vain. It is written in the Hcri[)ture, " Thou slialt smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered;" which plainly implies that it is just to judge of a ministry by those who attend on that ministry, and whose sentiments and conduct correspond with it. The piety of the Friends, and their con- scientious example, are evident to all. Should you ask them whether they believe in Christ, from thousands you would have the reply that they did. Upon the principles of the gospel, then, all who acknowledge the gospel must believe them to be Christians ; for it is explicitly and repeatedly asserted, that he who believeth on the Son shall be saved. How did these persons become Christians ? How did they hear of Christ ? Did they, contrary to the intimation of Scripture, hear without a preacher ? Have they been saved aside from the divine establishment; that is, aside from the foolishness of preaching ? Yet many of them never heard an Episcopalian preacher. Rather, do not their doctrines and practice correspond with the sentiments of their ov^ii preachers ? To proceed from the Friends, there are the Methodists and the Baptists, in their various orders. The Presbyterians^ in their extensive jurisdiction, and the Congregationalists, in their innumerable societies. Shall we call all these schis- matics, and deluded in their sentiments, and false in their practice ? T APOSTOLIC Sr("CESfJI(»N. si •i is- ir WliJit roasoti is tliore for it ? Do tlioy not, witli tlie Ejiisropal orders, ackiiowlctlgo One God? T>o tliey not possess tlie same Saviour ; an; who exercise a more extensive charit}', and whose system of doctrines and government is more free from human forms and ceremonies ? If the Anglican Communion be not supe- rior to some others in either of these respects, to deny that the others are truly Christian is to give up the pov.-er of religion to the form of it. If we give heed to the practice of religion, the evidences of piety are as conspicuous in vari- ous other denominations as in that of the Episcopacy. The person, tlierefore, who calls the practice of such dissenters hypocrisy, and their sentiments a delusion, must contradict the truth of relis^ion, and sin asrainst the lisiht of heaven. The argument from this point is, if the various denomina- tions in the Church which do not enjoy, as rninisfcrs, pretended successors of the Apostles, ex'.iibit an evidence of Christianity, and if, in this, they act consistently with their nihustry, then their ministry has received ordination, and consequently, there are no successors of the Apostles. Again : That the Apostles have no successors, will be fully proved if we reflect that there has been a necessity for per- .sons to receive ordination fr a others besides those who pre- tend to be the successors of ilie Apostles. Was there not a necessity for the Churcli of England to dissent from the Papal ? Doubtless there was. Happily for the Anglican Cliurcli there were several 10 APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION, .a bishops who dissented likewiss, and consequently it pos- sessed the power of ordination. Wherefore, permit me to ask, was there not a necessity for other bodies to dissent from the Episcopal Church of England? What were the reasons of this dissension ? Wat; it owing to pride ? To any ambitious intention of exalting themselves? Or, to u temper of disobedience to religions in civil govern- ment ? Rather, was it not owing, in several instances, to their hav- ijig enlightened consciences, which would not allow tliem to sacrifice their religious rights to human policy ; and to con- nect with the doctrines of Scripture the commandments of men : Without adducing any instances in support of this from the history of the various dissensions, I would ask whether, i v'cn within the memory of persons now living, a man could receive ordination from t)ie Church of England without sub- mitting to human assertions as to doctrines of Scripture ? When circumstances are such, it is the duty of a people ■either to submit their consciences to human rules, or to be destitute of the ordinances of the Gospel, or to have a min- ist-y upon their own principles. To neglect the ordinances of the Gospel cannot be a duty. To resign our religious liberty to human policy must be a sin. And therefore there has been, and is a necessity for per- sons to receive ordination from others besides Episcojyal hishop-'i, and consequently there are no successors to the Apostles. When I say that the Apostles have no succesi ^rs, I do not mean that their characters are in no respect represented. Tiie powers which the true miniiters of the Gospel possess were once enjoyed by them, and have \ jen conveyed down by God as he hath pleased. In this sense, the character of Christ is, in some respects, represented. But my meaning- is, that as there is one Lord Jesud Christ, so there are twelve Apostles, and one apostle of the Gentiles; aad that all succeeding officers in the Church are inferior to them at lead APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION. 11 one order, and consequently, cannot pretend to be their successors. I say this, not from any envy or dislike to the idea of that superiority whicli Episcopal bishops claim, considered in itself, for I acknowledge tlie same superiority in the writings of St. Paul and the other Apostles, and in the character of Christ. Let me now call your attention to the second observation in our subject. That it is an erroneous idea of the authority v)f a minister to suppose that he has iany other power to forgive sins, than by jyreachimj the Gospel, The doctrine of absolution, as it is mistakenly inculcated, is founded, by those who maintain it, upon the words of Christ to his disciples recorded in St. John's Gospel, xx, 23. "Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them, and whosesoever sins yo retain, they are retained." I shall not say that this commission has respect to all true ministers of the Gospel, equally as it had to the Apostles. But it is my design, in this part of m}' subject, to consider the mean- ing wlxich it must have had as it referred to the disciples. That it did not imply a right to pronounce upon any person absolute forgiveness, wen with conditions supposed, will appear, if wc reflect, 1st. That no one but God is acquainted with the heart. It is mentioned vs being an attribute of his nature, that he searcheth the heart, and trieth the reins of the children of men. To forgive sins absolutely, necessarily presupposes a knowledge of the heart, and includes more than this knowl- edge. That the Apostles did not know the heart (not to multiply proofs), is evident from the writings of St. Paul. He sup- posed tlhat some among the Galatians were Christians. But after some time, he wrote to them in these words : " I stand in doubt of you; I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labor in vain. I travel in birth again until Christ be formed in you." But if the Apostles did not know the heart, no one after them can pretend to this wisdom; and, therefore, the authority to forgive sins has ceased. M\ M 12 .APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION. II. ll 2d. That tlie commission is not to be taken in this mean-- ing will appear, if we consider that there is 7io token gkeiiy- by which a ministor can determine when a person is a proper subject of for£:iveness. To say, that when a person repents, he is to be forgiven^ is not answering the difficulttj in this objection ; for it is im- possible to determine when a person has repented. The Apostles were unable to determine this, as appears from the writings of St. Paul already quoted. lie douhtcd the Gala- tian converts. It is necessary, therefore, in order that a power of absolution may be exercised, that there be some sensible token by which it mtiy be known who is a proper subject of the rite. And we find, that in the Papal Church, where this doctrine is the most grossly abused, they do require a sensible token. Thus they decree penance before foro:ivenoss. And where the officers in the Church are avaricious, and look upon money as the greatest good, they bestow absolution upoi receiving this. If a person cannot be forgiven without repentance, and if it cannot be known when a person does repent, then, in order that a minister may pronounce absolution, it is necessary for him to know, bi/ some sensible token, when repentance is exercised. As there is no such token appointed by God, the commission of our Lord did not convey a right absolutely to forgive. 3d. That it implied no such power will appear, if we con- sider that the exercise of it would be inconsistent with other duties which are enjoined upon us. We are commanded, in Scripture, to love our neighbor as ourself. Not knowing the heart, we are commanded to make presumptions in its favor, and to forgive our enemies. We are commanded to exercise that charity which liopeth all things, which believeth all things, and which covereth a multitude of sins. We know that no person can be forgiven of God w^ho does not truly repent. If a minister be under obligations to forgive many who do not repent, his absolution cannot surely be confirmed. Should it be said that a minister is under obligation to exer- cise charity, and forgive as a Christian, but he is not, as a minister, it may be answered, that there is no reason for such a distinction; and to suppose that a person must forgive APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION, 13 Hohm his forgiceness can be of no avails and that he must not forgive when the act would he efficacious, is equally absurd i as to think that a person must not he charitable till he lias money to bestow, and then, that it would be a sin to gice. 4th. That the power to forgive sins cannot be taken in an . absolute sense, is further evident, from the fact that the Apostles never exercised it. That they did not, we may .presume from there not being the least shadow of evidence in 8U[>port of a contrary supposition. Though many sinners • came to them desirous of being saved, yet they never pre- tended to pardon their sins; but directed them to repent • and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ if they woukl have life, or have a full remission of sins. Thus it was at the time of Pentecost; thus it was in the case of the Jailor; and thus it was in instances too numerous to be here repeated. If the Apostles had possessed the power to forgive sins, they doubt- • less would have exercised it. But though we hear of their preaching Jesus Christ and Him crucified to a great part of the world, though we hear of their baptizing many, yet we do not reid of their pronouncing absolution, no, not in one instance. Having considered what was not the sense of the charge which our Lord delivered to his disciples, let us now attend • to its true meaning. Our Lord, just before his ascension, according to St. Mark's gospel, said to his disciples, "Go ye into all the world, and • preach the gospel to every creature." "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; and he that believeth not ' shall be damned." And according to the gospel of St. John, he said, "As my Father hath sent me, even so eend I vou. And he breathed on them and said, Receive the Holy Ghost." And he said, ' "Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them ; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained." That our Lord, in saying, ^^whosesoever sins ye remit, they ■ are remitted, had reference to their preaching the gospel, is • evident, since, in preaching the gospel they would fulfill that mission upon which Christ sent them, " Go ye and teach all •jiations, baptizing them." That it had reference to this is 14 APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION. evident, since in preaching the gospel they would eithei- absolve or condemn the world. You are sensible that a conditional assCition i% if the- condition be fulfilled, a positive assertion. As, for instance, if you say to me that if my eyes are open I see the light, if my eyes be open it is saying that I do see the light. And thus, if I say to you, that if you- repent of your sins you shall be forgiven, it is saying if you do now repent you are already forgiven. This was the absolution which Christ intended. He told his disciples upon what conditions sins would be remitted. He charged them to preach this to the world. He breathed on them and said, " Receive the Holy Ghost," that they might not err in their doctrines, and that they might be qualified to preach, and then he said to them, "Whoseso- ever sins ye remit, they are remitted," to confirm the certainty of the doctrine wliich he had commanded them to declare. It is to be remarked that the Apostles were to preach a new doctrine, and many would not believe that sins would be forgiven upon repentance; or, that they would be retained by unbelief; and others might doubt of the certainty of it. The Saviour tells them to declare it, and that whosesoever sins they thus remit shall be remitted, and whosesoever sins they retain shall be retained. That this was the only absolution which the Apostles did give we must conclude^ since this was the absolution which the Apostles did give. We find it declared throughout their writings, that he that believeth and is baptized, or, so believeth as that he is sanctified, shall be saved; and he that believeth not shall be damned. And, indeed, it would be a great undertaking to attempt to selact one in ten of the instances in which the Apostles fulfilled their commission of forgiving and retaining sins by declaring this. But it may be aske«l, if persons are forgiven by God m consequence of faith in Christ, with what propriety did Christ say to his disciples, " Whosesoever sins ye forgive V I answer,, with the strictest propriety ; because the doctrine of forgive- APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION. 15 ness was to be declared only by them, or from them. That it 18 not known in any other method will appear, if we consider the strict regard which God has ever paid to the office of the ministry. Thus, when Cornelius was heard in his prayer and accepted in his alms, and an angel was sent to him, this angel, instead of instructing him, com- manded him to call Peter, who was then distant several days' journey, and to hear from him his duty. From the Apostles only, and from Luke who labored with them in the ministry, have we an account of the life of C^'hrist, and of his doctrines, and of the duties which were incumbent on his Apostles and their discourses. Every one who is called to preach the Gospel has author- ity to declare, " he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." 71iis is an absolution or condemnation which each one must have read for himself, who has perused the Scrip- tures. It is an absolution or condemnation which is ever passed upon each individual person; and the whole world is either acquitted or condemned by it, since the Scriptures Jiaoe gone out, or will (jo out into all the earth, and their voice unto the ends of the world, and the message of Preachers of the Gospel is that only which the Scriptures declare. If the doctrine of positive absolution cannot be supported upon the passage of Scripture which has been considered, it is imposf