Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1780. Excerpt: ... of the Christian church and her pastors is always united, and never separated from the inward power, virtue, and righteous lise of Christianity; where this ceaseth, that ceastth also. But our adverfaries acknowledge, That many, if not most of those, by and through whom they derive this authority, -were altogether destitute of this life and virtue of Christianity: therefore they could neither receive, have, nor transmit any Christian authority. Object. But if it be objected, That though the generality of the bishops and priests of the church of Rome, during the apostasy, were such wicked men; yet Protestants affirm, and thou thyself feemest to acknowledge, that there were some good men among themt whom the hard regarded, and who were true members of the Catholick church of Christ, j might not they then have transmitted this authority? Answ. j answer; This faith nothing, in respect Protestants do not at all lay claim to their ministry as transmitted to them by a direct line of good men; which they can never shew, nor yet pretend to: The Prote- but generally place this succession as inherent in foTaSsuPi"d the whole pastors of the apostate church. Neither -ssion in- do they plead their call to be good and valid, herent. because they can derive it through a line of good men, separate and observably distinguishable from the rest of the bishops and clergy of the Romish church; but they derive it as an authority residing in the whole: for they think it heresy, to judge that the quality or condition of the administrator doth any ways invalidate or prejudice his work. This vain and pretended succession not only militates against, and fights with the very manisest purpose and intent of Christ in the gathering and calling of his church, but makes him (so to speak) more blind and less pru...