The Methodist Ministry Defended, Or, a Reply to the Arguments in Favour of the Divine Institution, and the Uninterrupted Succession of Episcopacy; As ... Stated in a Letter to the Author, by the Re - Tapa blanda

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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1899. Excerpt: ... TO THE REV. CHARLES J. SHREVE, RECTOR OF THE PARISH OF GUYSBOROUGH. Rev. Sir, The Wesleyans, as a body, have never. been hostile to the Church of England, so called; and I hope that what may be advanced in the present letters against the divine institution and the exclusive claims of Episcopacy, as pleaded for by yon, will not be construed into an act of hostility against the real doctrines of the venerable Church of which you are a zealous minister, or into an expression of improper feeling towards you in person. In urging however, these exclusive claims on members of the Wesleyan Society, I think, in so doing, you not only depart from the truly Catholic spirit of your venerable Church, but are led unwarrantably to speak disrespectfully of other ministers, to the great injury of the interests of true religion. As well, therefore, for the maintenance of what, I conceive to be, truth, the interests of piety, and the confirmation of the confidence which the Wesleyan members have in the scriptural qualifications of their Ministers, I call in question the truth of the pretensions you avow, and submit them to the ordeal of public investigation. In all controversies, it is needful for the disputants to define their terms, otherwise they will only " beat the air." I understand you, then, to affirm that Diocesan Episcopacy, as established and observed by the Church of England, is of divine institution,--that there was originally, and is from the very nature of the office, a distinction of order between bishops, and presbyters or elders, the former being superior to the latter, and to whom it belongs by right of office to ordain, baptize, &c,--that Episcopacy, as held by you, is so essential, that where it is not established, there is no true Church of Christ, and...