whence our stream is derived, not to the channels through which it has lately passed. We would view her in relation to the whole of which she is a part, the Primitive and Apostolic Church, whence she is descended, to which she belongs, "the rock out of "which she was hewed, and the hole of the pit from "which she was digged." This has ever been our profession. "This is the very chiefest advantage "which the warmest recommenders of tradition in 66 our Church expect from it, viz. that attention to it "should very much elevate men's ideas of the existing system, proving it divine in many points, where 66 66 they now ignorantly suppose it human. This, and "not the establishment of any mere theory, new or "old, is the immediate object of those who have most 66 earnestly urged, from time to time, the reverential study of Christian antiquity." Our own Church is the immediate, the Church universal the ultimate visible authority; she is to us the representative of the Universal Church, as the Church Universal is of her LORD; our own derives her authority from the Universal Church, and cannot claim any, contrary to her: we belong to her, because we were baptized in her, and she is the descendant of the primitive Church in this land, and her Bishops "the successors of the Apostles:" we receive as Articles of Faith, what she delivers to us as fixed by the Universal Church; what she has by Keble. Postscript to 3rd edit. of Sermon on Tradition, p. 62. See also Pref. to St. Augustine's Confessions. p. viii. ix. her private judgment deduced from Holy Scripture, we teach because we also think it to be so deducible; if we did not so think, we should obey, must belong to her, but could not teach: her Sacraments we receive, because she has received the commission to impart them; her rites, because she has the power to ordain or to change them. To our own Church we owe submission; to the decisions of the Church universal, Faith. This relation, in which we stand as members both of a particular Church, and of the "Holy Church universal," is expressed with such pious humility by Archbishop Bramhall, that I too cannot but beg to express, in his language, what our wishes would be, as far as any of us may, or are forced to, speak of ourselves. "No one can justly blame me for honouring my spiritual mother, the Church of England, in "whose womb I was conceived, at whose breasts I 66 66 was nourished, and in whose bosom I hope to die.” Yet though his love was to his immediate mother, his allegiance was more especially to the "mother of "us all." He proceeds after a while: "Howsoever it "be, I submit myself and my poor endeavours, first "to the judgment of the Catholic Ecumenical essen"tial Church, which if some of late days have en"deavoured to hiss out of the Schools as a fancy, I "cannot help it. From the beginning it was not so. "And if I should mistake the right Catholic Church 1 Works, p. 141, quoted more fully by Mr. Newman on Romanism; Advertisement. "out of human frailty or ignorance (which for my 66 part I have no reason in the world to suspect, yet "it is not impossible when the Romanists themselves "are divided into five or six several opinions, what "this Catholic Church, or what their infallible Judge 66 66 is,) I do implicitly and in the preparation of my "mind submit myself to the True Catholic Church, "the Spouse of Christ, the Mother of the Saints, "the Pillar of Truth. And seeing my adherence is "firmer to the Infallible Rule of Faith, that is, the Holy Scriptures interpreted by the Catholic Church, "than to mine own private judgment or opinions; although I should unwittingly fall into an error, yet "this cordial submission is an implicit retractation thereof, and I am confident will be so accepted by "the Father of Mercies, both from me and all others "who seriously and sincerely do seek after peace "and truth. 66 66 "Likewise I submit myself to the Representative "Church, that is, a free general Council, or as general "as can be procured; and until then to the Church "of England, wherein I was baptized, or to a national 66 English Synod. To the determination of all which, "and each of these respectively, according to the "distinct degree of their authority, I yield a con"formity and compliance, or at the least and to the "lowest of them an acquiescence." I have dwelt the longer upon this subject, because upon it some of the most vehement charges of ap proximating to Rome have of late been founded; it were easier to draw a parallel (as has in part been done) between the Romanist and Ultra-Protestant. (1) Both agree in appealing to their own interpretation of Holy Scripture against the agreement of Catholic antiquity'. (2) Both claim to this case 1 See Mr. Newman, on Romanism, Lect. 7.-"Instances of the abuse of private judgment," § 5, 6. where he shows that Purgatory and the Pope's Supremacy came in through misapplication of Scripture, against tradition. In like way, the right to administer the Holy Eucharist in one kind, is rested on passages of Scripture, Luke xxiv. 30. 35. Acts ii. 42. 46; xx. 7; xxvii. 35. which would be very strong, were not all tradition of all Churches for nearly thirteen centuries against it. Other instances of this abuse of Scripture argument are quoted in Mr. Newman's work. The same was observed by Bp. Jewel, who in his "reply to Dr. Cole," (Works, p. 43.) thus puts a number of them together. Howbeit, of such reasons ye have store enough, as I were able to show you at large, if need so required. As where ye say: 66 Extra de Majoritate et obedientia. Cap. unam Innocentius dist. 82 Pro posuisti: Roffensis Quæ sunt potestates à Deo ordinatæ sunt: The powers that be are ordered by God: Ergo, The Pope is above the Emperor. Sancti estote, quoniam ego sanctus sum: Be ye Ergo, No married man may be a Priest. Christ said unto Peter, Solve pro me et te: Pay the tribute for me and thee: Ergo, the Pope is head of the Church. Ecclesiasticus saith, In medio ecclesiæ aperuit os suum: He opened his mouth in the midst of the congregation: the presence and infallible assistance of the Holy Spirit, the Romanist as promised to the Church, the Ultra-Protestant as promised to individuals'. Concilium Secundum sub Iren. Rom. sub Silvestro. The Canon ists, Durandus. Eckius. Dr. Cole at Westmin ster. Ergo, The Priest must turn round at the midst of the Altar. Fecit Deus hominem ad imaginem et similitudinem Ergo, There must be images in the Church. Ergo, The Church cannot err. Non est discipulus supra magistrum: There is no scholar above his master: Ergo, No man may judge the Pope. Papa est dominus omnium beneficiorum: The Ergo, He cannot commit simony, though he Domini est terra et plenitudo ejus: The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: Ergo, The Communion cake must be made round. Omnis spiritus laudet Dominum: Let all spirits praise the Lord :" Ergo, Ye must have organs in the Church. Lac vobis potum dedi: or, Ignorantia est mater pietatis I gave you milk to drink: or, Ignorance is the mother of devotion: Ergo, The people must make their prayers in a strange tongue." 'E. g. Mr. Scott, "Force of Truth," (v. fin.) thus vindicates his absolute certainty of the truth of the Calvinistic system"Supposing this narration true, (for which the appeal is made to the heart-searching GOD,) and supposing the promises mentioned |