beyond human power and endurance; and the learning and judgment requisite to determine such a multitude of difficult questions in doctrine and morality, are possessed by very few men; while if the research be commenced fortuitously, without any clue to guide us to those societies which may most probably be of the church of Christ, we may begin by devoting a great deal of time to the examination of objects totally unworthy of our attention. The precepts of Christian prudence require, that we should take the briefest course, consistent with a security of arriving at a sound conclusion in a practical question of such vital importance. "The time is short" to run the race of Christianity, even when we have entered on it: how necessary then is it that we should endeavour to find speedily, as well as certainly, the arena in which it is to be run. It is with such views, that theologians in various ages have endeavoured to lay down rules for the discrimination of Christ's church, by a comparatively short and intelligible process; and these rules are styled notes or signs of the church. By notes of the church are meant some of its more prominent attributes, which may be ascertained and applied to all existing communities of professing Christians, without any very lengthened discussion on obscure and difficult points. In this point of view, general truth of doctrine and general accordance with the law and institutions of Christ, do not seem notes such as are here spoken of. Each society pretends its own soundness in these respects, and sustains its own views by scriptural and other arguments; and the critical investigation of all the doctrines and duties of Christianity in controversy, is impossible to the infinite majority of men. It would demand, at all events, too lengthened a process; and even if a society were proved to be in error on some point, it would not follow directly that it is Antichristian, because it is generally admitted, that there may be doctrinal blemishes, in particular churches, which do not absolutely annul their character. It is not doubtful, indeed, that the church of Christ is on the whole, faithful and obedient to the Revelation of Christ; but the great majority of men are always obliged, absolutely, either to follow the doctrine of their church, or to be uncertain on many points; and it is impossible that they should discover the true church, by investigating all those doctrines which, through their ignorance, they are obliged by the arrangements of Divine Providence to receive on her testimony. The necessity of devising some general notes of the church, and of not entering at once on controversial debates concerning all points of doctrine and discipline, was early perceived by Christian theologians. Tertullian appeals in refutation of the heresies of his age, to the antiquity of the church derived from the Apostles, and its priority to all heretical communities. Irenæus refers to the unity of the church's doctrines, and the succession of her bishops from the Apostles. The universality of the church was more especially urged in the controversy with the Donatists. St. Augustine reckons amongst those things which attached him to the church: The consent of nations, authority founded on miracles, sanctity of morals, antiquity of origin, succession of bishops from St. Peter to the present Episcopate, and the very name of the catholic a * Præscriptiones adv. Hæreticos. Adv. Hæreses, lib. i. c. 10; lib. iii. church . St. Jerome mentions the continual duration of the church from the Apostles, and the very appellation of the Christian name". In modern times Bellarmine, of the Roman school, added several other notes, such as: Agreement with the primitive church in doctrine, union of members among themselves and with their Head, sanctity of doctrine and of founders, efficacy of doctrine, continuance of miracles and prophecy, confessions of adversaries, the unhappy end of those who opposed the church, and the temporal felicity conferred on it. Luther assigned as notes of the true church, the true and uncorrupted preaching of the Gospel, administration of baptism, of the eucharist, and of the keys; a legitimate ministry, public service in a known language, and tribulations internally and externally. Calvin reckons only truth of doctrine, and right administration of the sacraments; and seems to reject succession ". Our learned theologians adopt a different view in some respects. Dr. Field admits the following notes of the church: Truth of doctrine; use of sacraments and means instituted by Christ; union under lawful ministers; antiquity without change of doctrine; lawful succession, i. e. with true doctrine; and universality in the successive sense, i. e. the prevalence of the church successively in all nations". Bishop Taylor admits as notes of the church, antiquity, duration, succession of bishops, union of members among themselves and with Christ, sanctity of doctrine, &c.i It is plain that we are not obliged to follow implicitly the judgment of particular theologians in ancient or modern times, in selecting notes of the church. Bellarmine's notes of temporal prosperity and the unhappy end of the church's enemies, are rejected by Tournely, Bailly', and generally by modern Romish theologians. They also differ with him and several other writers of their communion, on the question of the universality of the church, which they rightly maintain, according to the doctrine of St. Augustine, in the simultaneous and permanent sense, as opposed to the doctrine of successive universality, which Melchior Canus, Bellarmine, and others admitted. We have a right to the same liberty of selection and addition as regards the notes assigned by our theologians; and if any of them have appeared to dwell too much on general truth of doctrine as a note, or to adopt the notion of successive universality, we are in no degree bound to sustain a line of argument which we may not judge to be well founded. The Constantinopolitan Creed gives to the Church the attributes of "ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC, AND APOSTOLICAL;" and as the notes of the church may in fact be included under these four heads, and as Romish theologians generally make use of them for the purpose, I shall for the sake of convenience adopt this arrangement in examining the notes of the church and ii. b. 1. s. 1 ; art. vi. p. 182, &c. Oxford ed. 1836. "Multi nihilominus inter Catholicos existimant duas posteriores notas, quas assignat Bellarminus, nempe infelicem exitum hostium ecclesiæ, et felicitatem temporalem eorum qui ecclesiam defenderunt, ab eo expungi debuisse."-Tournely de ecclesia, qu. i. art. 2. p. 60. where he argues against these notes.-See also Bailly, Tract. de Eccl. c. v. k Melchior Canus de Locis Theolog., lib. iv. cap. postremum. Resp. ad 13. Bellarmin., l. iv. de Notis Eccl., c. 7. |