IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I ■ ; — 28 I4£ 13 2 M 22 1^ ^ •» llllg III 1.8 1.25 1.4 1,6 < 6" >■ ^ % >? &. '/ Photographic Sciences Corporation 33 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY USSO (716) tTl^SOS *^ #? ^^ i/.A CIHM Microfiche Series (l\/lonographs) iCIMH Collection de microfiches (monographles) Canadian Institute for Historical IMicroraproductions / Institut Canadian da microraproductions historiquas Technical and Bibliographic Notes / Notes techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. 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Whenever possib'e, these have b«en omitted ?rom filming/ II te peut que cortaines pages blanches ajouttes lurs d'una restauration apparaissent dans le texte, mais, lorsque cela etait possible, ces pages n'ont pas *t* film^s. Additional comment^;/ Commentairas lupplimentaires: This item ii filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est film* au taux de rMuction indiqu* cidessoui, '2X 14J( 1BX J L'Institut a microfilm^ l.«.v-, -vVS. »,•.-.- .... tliose id op- iptia have • that A Diocesan Srxon inny he defined as an asseniM^ oalled together by the P.i.l.op, composed either (i.) of iho Bisliop and Clor^^y of the dioeese, (in uhich case the tlergy may appear either all personally, or by a limiti.d "umber of rei.resontativos chosen from their own b,.-Iv f t^^mselves,) or (!|.) of the Bishop, the Cler,.y, and the La,tj. The Anu-tions of the two last named bodi.s nre to assist the Bishop in l„*s deliberations for the good oftheChnrch in his Diocese. When the throe constituent partsof a Diocesan Synod, assembled under the conditions mentione.l above, con- cur in imposing oortnin regulations upon themselves anc the menibers of thoir own Communion generally, ^vitlun the Diocese, any mich regulation may be callJd ^^anon, or an Act of the Synod, bindiug upon the con- science, and commending itself to the approbation of each member of the Church within the Diocese. StATKMKNT op a OAfiR. _ Let it bo suppose.! that some regulation should be issue^ by 0.10 or two of the parties composing, the such ^yuod, and would bo invalid uui Iho consent of tlie third, thcu tht a regulation culd not bo called an Act uV ((. A Synod being called under the above conditions, if the Laity, in Synod assembled, should withhold their concurrence from any regulation, such regulation might be looked upon as an expression of opinion on the part of the Bishop and the Clergy, but as nothing more :— the Laity refusing their consent, it loses the character of a Canon or Synodical Act. b. If the body of the Clergy, in Synod assembled, withhold their concurrence from a proposed rogidalion, such regulation clearly cannot be called an Act of the Synod : one of the constituent parts of that Synod does not ratify it. c. If the Bishop, in such Synod, refuse his consent to the passing of any proposed regula- tion, such regulation cannot be binding on the members of the Church : it is not an Act of the Synod, being disapproved by the Bishop and chief Pastor of the Diocese, and one of the three estates composing the Synod. It seems desirable, then, that each of these three par- ties, Bishop, Clergy, and Laity, in Synod assembled, should ha-e the power of negativing any proposed regu- lation. And, clearly, it would not be equitable to give such power to either the second, or tho third, and with- hold it from tho first of the three above mentioned par- tics. How could a Churchman consent to see the Ijishop of the Diocese refused a power conceded to the (•lergy, and to tho Laity also, of that diocese ? For the following reasons tho concurrence of the Bishop ought to be regarded as necessary to the validity of all Acta of a Synod. I. Tho power the Bishop would exorcise in the Svnr>,l could be only of a negative, and not of a positive, character. Ho could do nothing in the Synod against the "/ill of the Clergy, or against the will of the Laity : he could only withhold his consent to a measure which he conscientously believes to be not for the good of the Diocese. 11. It must always be remembered that the Bishop's care is over the whole diocese ; that of a Clergyman over only his own parish or mission ; and a Layman's interest is chiefly confined to his own neighbourhood. IIow can Avc, of the Clergy or Laity, with smaller res- ponsibility, wish to force upon a whole Diocese that which he, who is bound to care for all, cannot approve. in. A Bishop, whose concurrence in the doings of a Synod is not thought essential, will sometimes be placed in the position of one compelled to act in his own Diocese under regulations made contrary to his expressed judgment. In that case he is not a Bishop, but the mere instrument of those over whom he is placed, and for the oversight of whom he must give account. IV. It is of the essence of a Bishop's office to rule and to administer the discipline of the Church. At the most solenm moment of his life — his Consecration — he was reminded that he was about to be " admitted to the government of the Church of Christ, which He purchased with no less price than the effusion of His own blood," and most solemnly the promise was demanded of him, before he could receive the Bishop's office, that ho would administer the discipline of the Church " according to such authority as he has by God's word, and as \^ him should be committed." IIow can we expect a Bishop to surrender an authority which God has bestowed upon him ? IIow could we afterwards respect one who had relinquished a sacred right, bound upon liis office and person by sanctions so awful ? V. The Clergy were asked at the most awful moment of their lives — their Ordination—*' Will you reverently a2 obey your Ordiuaiy, and other chief Ministers, unto whom is committed the charge and government over you, submitting yourselves to their god!y jiidirments I" And they answered, " I will so do." And yet, if this negative power is withheld from the J3ishop, tli'ey will frequently find themselves in the position of forcing on a measure against the "judgment," perhaps to the grief and vexation, of their Bishop, to the certain peril of violating their ordination vows. VI. If we deprive the Bishop of this power wo reduce our Church to a Presbytery ; one oi the maiu distinc- tions between the Presbyterians and the Church being that the chief authority lies, Avith the former in the Presbytery, with the latter in the Bishop. Our regimen is not Presbyterian but Episcopal. VII. If we deprive the Bishop of tl-.is power, a foith- ful Churchman may often be place J in this dilemma, vi^.: that he must either abide by a regulation passed contrary to the judgment and de^.ire of )iis Bisliop, or sympathize with the Bishop, and reject a regulation imposed by the Synod. Can .his bo agreeal.ie to the ordinance of God, Who is the author not of confusion but of order ? VIII. H we deprive the Bishop of this power, then the regulations of the Synod will incur the (lan.rer of never being enforced, and of falling into contempt. Ought a Bishop to be placed in such a position that h© must enforce a discipline which, in his conscience, he believes will be pernicious to his diocese ? IX. If the Bishop bo not deprived of this power, then a free expression of opinion may bo expected in the Synod, and not otherwise. A Bishop would be tempted, —nay, it would be his duty,— to induce a Clortryinan, or Layman, to think as he does on any proposed r(>gulati'on. Are there not many, both of Clergy and Laity, who hav- ing privately learned the Bishop's opinion and wishes from his own mouth, would hesitate afterwards puhlicly to opi»ose him iu tlie Synod ? Some might hold their peace from fear, or from some other unworthy motive ; others only from natural deference to one [.laced over them by God ; butin either case free expression of opinion is endangered. But if the Bishop's own concurrence be needed, he has no inducement to silence discussion, or to bring hfs iniluenceto bear on either Clergy or Laity in any secret ways. All the Acts passing with his concurrence, he can have no temptation to resent the opposition oifered by either Clergy or Laity. X. If the Bishop be deprived of this power, we shall be acting unlike the Church of Christ in all ages, and in defiance of all precedents ? (And surely Ilc^accord- ing to His promise, has " been with her always.") Who ever heard in Chm-ch History of a Bishop's' voice being accounted nothing in his own Synod ? XL When a Diocesan Synod is established, the Church's authority can only be exhibited in such Synod and its Acts ; if, therefore, the Bishop have not autho- rity in the Synod, he has authority nowhere. XIL In passing a regulation in Synod in opposition to the IBishop, we of the Clergy,or of the Laity, should be resisting an autliority given him by God. T' ^'s conside- ration might well settle the whole matter. XITL If we deprive the Bishop of this power, we shall be taking the side of those who in former days were always the enemies of our Church and of her form of government, and opposing ourselves to the expressed opinion of the best, the most learned, and the most moderate, of the great divines of our Reformed Church. We must not expose oui-selves to the censure, nor make ourselves ridiculous in the eyes, of the other branches of that now widely spread communion, tm Anglican Church. 8 A few extracts arc subjoined from the wri(i'n.r<; of Arclibisliop UsiiKR, Bishop Hall, Jeukm^ Tayloh, UooiiER, Bauiiow, and lastly of Calvix. Arclibishop UsriKR, quoted by Bingbani, (Ant., vol. IX., p. 897)1 ' "To bring the government as near as may bo allowed to the practice of the present Presbyteries, accordin^v to Archnshop Ushers proposal, the Bishop may call i monthly Synod of all the Pastors in the Diocio : the Bjshop and Presbyters concluding all things by conimon consent, so as the Bishop may retain his authorilu h, having a negative voice, that nothing he concluded witll out hnn, and the Presbyters also have their share in the government of the Church, that the Bishop ask the consent of the major part of them; as some P.otestant Bishopshave done both in their Consistories and Synod^- and as was the practice of the Church in the d'ays of Ignatms." •' Bishop Hall, asserting tlie jurisdiction of P.lshops, Bays, ( Worhs, vol. x., p. 227. Ud. Talhogs) : «' It is tlie charge laid upon Presbyters bymorethan one ancient Councd or single Father, ' to do nothing at all without the consent of the Bishop: We have hoard it from holy Ignatius and from the Apostolic Canons ; we may hear it when we please from the holy martyr Cyprian '' &c. ; and then he quotes with approbation a Canon of the Council of Antioch: "Let every Bishop have au- thority of his own See, both to govern it accordino- to the fear of God, which is before his eyes, and to have a provident care of the whole comitry which is under his city." Again {p. 334) : " Turn over all histories, search Uie records oi all times and places ; if ever it can bo shewn that any orthodox church in the wliole Christian world, since tlio tiinos of Christ and Us Apostles, was o-overned otlienvise tl.an by a Bisliop superior to hh Clergy, (unless perl.nps during- tlie time of some persecution^'.r short interregnum,) let mo foifeit ray part of the cause." Again, (p. 244), speaking of the authority of Bislinps, he says : " Was this power left ])y the Apostles or >vas It not left ? If it wore left (as else we could have no Church,) was it loft with all or with some ? AVitii all it canno(, the multitude cannot be thought fit for these attaiis. If with some, then whether with one in a city or territory, or with more ? If with more, yxhy is the charge then imposed upon one ? One Timothy in Ephesus; one Titus in Crete ; one Angel in Thyatira; one other in Philadelphia, Laodicea, and the rest ; and why are those single i>ersons challenge:i]>lo for the neglect ? And if this power and this charge were, by the very hands of the Apostles, entailed upon these emment persons, which should by due Ordination therein succeed them, and from them lineally des.-end upon us, I wonder what human power dare presume to cut it off." n Bishop Tavlor ( Worh, vol. x.,2h 277. Edcnh EOn) MVhether the diocese be little or great, where there IS a Bishop and a congregation, there is a diocose, and there IS a power of ('ommanding, and a necessity of obeymg, because above the Bishop there is no ap- pointment in the whole religion, it is necessary that the legislative he established in him," (i. e. that lie sliould have authority to legislate.) ^^ Again, {lh.,p. 27s,) quoting S. Ignatius, he says:— "It is fit that you obey your Bishop, and in nothing contradict him, for he that does despises not him that is^ visible, but in him despises the invisible God, for the Bishop hath not his promotion from men but from God." Again, {vol x., p. 281) : " Unless you are sure you 10 displease God in obojin- the Bishop, it is certain you do diq)lease God by disobeying- him." Ag,in,0'o/. v,p.l3o):^ "Tiie issue then is this: he Presbyters, and Ciergy, and Laity, mast obey ; therefore the Bishop must oovem and give them laios'' ^ Again, (/i., p, 147) : - What power Christ hath giyen tliem, no man can take away." Again, {Ih, p. ] 72) : " If it be objected, ' that whieh IS of gen -ral concernment must be of general scrutiny,' I answer, It is true, unless where God himself hath inti'ustcd the care of others in a body, as Ho hath iu the Bishop, and will require the souls of his Diocese at his haiuf'' Agai.., {Ih,,p. 185) : "Those men that call the Bishop a Pope are themselves desirous to make a conclaye of Cardinals, and to make every dioceso a Roman Con- sistory." Again, {IlK.p. V5) : « Tresbyters might be summoned to take the place of the Bishop in his absence, but never had any ordinary jurisdiction given them by vir- tue of their ordination, or any commission from Christ and his Apostles." nooKKu, {Works, Ylvii, 10,) speaking of S. Jerome, says:— '^ The pri.lo of insolent Bishops hath not a sharper enemy than Jerome, for which cause ho takcth often occasions most sovoroly to inveigh against thorn, ********* — som(>(imes for not vonchsafi ig to use any conference w.(h their Bresbyters." And after saying this he yet quotes with approval the following words: "The very safety ;.f the Church," saith Jerome, " dcpendeth on the dignity of the Chief BricMt (the Bishop,) to whom unless men grant an .^xccoding ntid an ominont powor, there will grow in Churehes even ns many schisms as there are persons which have autliority." you 11 Again, {Ih. 8), he quotes S. Cypriuu with approval, saying : " It is not a matter left to our own choice Avhether Bishops s" all rule or no, but it is the will of our Lord and Saviour that every act of the Church he governed hj their Bishops.^'' Again, {lb. xvii, 1) : "In the writings of the ancient fathers there is not anything with more serious assevera- tion inculcated than that it is God which maketh Bishops, that their authority is of Divine allowance, that, according to God's own h^v, the whole Christian frater- nity standeth hound to obey hi7n" Again, (VIII, vi, 8) : "A law, be it civil or qc< ias- tical, is a public obligation, Avherein seeing that the whole standeth charged, no reason it should 2)ass with- out his jvivity and will, whom principally the wi>ole doth depend upon." For of this thing no man doubteth, namely, that in all societies, corporations and compa- nies, what severally each shall be bound unto, it must be with all their consents ratified. Peace and justice are maintained hy preserving unto every order their rights, and by keeping all estates as it were in an even balance.''^ Barrow, on the Unity of the Church : "Wo do affirm that all Churches nro obliged to comply with lawful decrees and orders appointed in Synods with coiisent of their Bisho2)s.''^ Calvin, {quoted by Bishop Hall, vol. .r.) says: "If they would bring unto us such an hierarchy, wherein the Bishops shall so rule as that they refuse not to submit themselves unto Christ, that they depend upon Ilira as their only hca