"dam, that, in what I have written, I have had "two things only in view; viz. to justify us from

a calumny which some persons imputed to us, "of believing that salvation could not be obtained "under the Episcopal government; and of aiding

as much as my weakness was capable of, a good "and holy union of the two parties. With respect

to the first, I believe I have, with sufficient just“ ness, explained the sentiments of all the Protes. 66 tants of this kingdom, and in particular, of all "those who are honoured with our character, (the "clergy.) And I am even assured that the Eng"lish Presbyterians would not go so far as to con

test the possibility of salvation under the minis"try of Bishops. They have, for that, too much light, wisdom, and christian charity. With respect to the second, I have endeavoured to keep "all the measures which ought to be kept in so great and important an affair as this. I have ex"plained myself only in the form of a wish, and "in showing what I desired that the Presbyte"rians might attentively consider. I have not been "silent with regard to the Episcopalians. I have "condemned the excesses into which some of both "parties have gone; and I have shown, as far as

my little wisdom enabled me, the reasons which "should induce both to a just and reasonable ac"commodation*."

In a Letter to the Bishop of London, of the same

Les Oeuvres Posthumes, de M. Claude. Tom. v. Let. 38.

"The Nonconform

date, M. Claude writes thus. "ists complain, that the Episcopalians are as ar"dent in pursuing them with the penalties of the "laws, as if they were adversaries and enemies. "They complain, that your government is no less "arbitrary and despotic with regard to dissenting "Ministers, than that of the Bishops of the Ro

(6

man communion. They complain, that you will "receive no one to the ministry, till he acknow"ledges, on oath, that Episcopacy is of divine

66

right, which is a hell (Gehenne) to the con "science. They complain, that, whilst you do not re-ordain the Roman Catholic priests who come to you, you do re-ordain ministers, who 66 come to you from beyond the seas, in the Church. "es of France, Holland, &c. They complain, that "the Bishops have a rigid attachment to many ce"remonies which are offensive, and for which, "nevertheless, they combat tanquam pro aris et

66

focis. In the name of God, my Lord, labour "to remove these grounds of complaint, if there "is any truth in them, and if there is not, to give "information of the real state of the case. And "let all Europe know, that there is nothing which "the glory of God, and the love of the Church can demand of you, that you are not ready to grant."

66

It is evident, then, from all the documents which have come to light on this subject, that the English Bishops, in order to draw from the foreign Presby

* Les Oeuvres Posthumes, de M. Claude. Tom. v. Let. 39.

terians something in their favour, sent to them a disingenuous statement of the case; that, under this deception, their answers were written; and that, as soon as they understood the real state of things, they complained of having been treated with duplicity, and declared opinions very different from those which had been imputed to them. That this was the case with M. Claude, is certain; and that it was also the case with his brethren, who shared in the imposition which was practised upon him, I have no doubt would appear, if we had access to their other writings.

The learned Daillé is also frequently quoted by zealous Episcopalians, as having made important concessions in favour of Prelacy. I cannot undertake to say that no incautious or doubtful sentence ever escaped from the pen of this illustrious Protestant, on the subject of Episcopacy; though I have never seen any which warrants the construction of our Episcopal brethren; but I may venture to assert, that no candid man can peruse his Sermons on the First Epistle to Timothy, without being convinced that he was a decided and warm advocate of ministerial parity, as having obtained in the Apostolic and primitive Church. To prove this, the following extracts are sufficient.

"Here the hierarchs, having their imagination "full of their grand prelatures, of their bishoprics, "their archbishoprics, and their primacies, do not "fail to dream of one in these words of the Apos"tle. That he besought Timothy to abide still at

"Ephesus, signifies, if you believe them, that he "made Timothy Bishop of the Church of Ephe"sus; and not only that, but even Metropolitan, or "Archbishop of the province; and even primate "of all Asia. You see how ingenious is the pas"sion for the crosier and the mitre; being able, "in so few and simple words, to detect such great "mysteries! For where is the man, who, in the

use of his natural understanding, without being "heated by a previous attachment, could ever have "found so many mitres-that of a Bishop, that of an Archbishop, and that of a Primate, in these

two words, Paul besought Timothy to abide still "at Ephesus? Who, without the help of some "extraordinary passion, could ever have made so

แ

charming and so rare a discovery? And imagine "that to beseech a man to stay in a city, means, to “establish him Bishop of that city, Archbishop of "the province, and primate of all the country? In very deed, the cause of these gentlemen of the hierarchy must be reduced to an evil plight, since they are constrained to resort to such pitiful 66 proofs*."

66

66

66

Again, he says-" St. Paul, and all the company of Pastors, laid hands on Timothy at his or"dination. St. Paul as president, and the rest as colleagues, according to the practice which ob"tains among us, where it is usual for the person appointed by the Synod first to lay hands on him

*See his First Sermon on the Epistle.

"that is ordained; all the rest of the pastors pre"sent, afterwards joining with him in laying on "their hands on the same person*."

The language of those divines of the Lutheran Church, who succeeded the Reformers, was not less explicit and decisive than that of the other Protestant divines of Europe. The following specimen of their opinions, is all that I have room to adınit.

The learned Frederick Balduin, Professor of Divinity in the University of Wittemberg, and a Superintendent in the Lutheran Church, speaking on the subject in question, expresses himself in the following manner. "Hence the Papists common"ly cry out against the pastors of our Churches, "as if they were not legitimately ordained, be

cause they were not ordained by Bishops; and "they assert that neither Luther, nor any other "orthodox ministers, had the power of conferring "orders, because they were not Bishops, but only "Presbyters. But our judgment is that Bishops "have their pre-eminence in the Church, not by "divine right, but by a voluntary arrangement

66

of the Church, which thought proper to direct "that, for the sake of order, a Bishop, or he who "was first in the ministry, should ordain in the "Church; the whole Presbytery being present, "and laying on hands at the same time; but so,

* Sce his 31st Sermon on the Epistle.