DIVINE RIGHT OF EPISCOPACY Is maintained, and the doctrine of the SUPREMACY OF THE BISHOP OF ROME Proved to be contrary to the SCRIPTURES, And writings of the FATHERS of the first three hundred years after Christ.-IN WHICH ALSO Several important points are explained and illustrated, viz. THE Unity of the Catholic Church, Sin of Schism, Nature and Vindication of the Establishment And Liturgy of the united CHURCH OF ENGLAND & IRELAND, &c. WITH Occasional remarks on several POPISH books lately published. Barwick COMPILED FROM the most celebrated DIVINES. "And they continued stedfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship (or communion,) and in breaking of bread, and in prayers," Acts 2. 42. "It must needs be that offences come, but woe be to that man by whom the offence cometh." Matt. 18. 17. DUBLIN: PRINTED BY R. SMITH, AND SOLD BY W. WATSON, 7, CAPEL-STREET BELFAST. PREFACE. J I AM persuaded, that the following treatise which attempts to explain the nature of the GOVERNMENT which Christ has established in his church, will require no apology, since all who profess themselves christians are so closely interested in the subject of it. That gross ignorance on this subject, prevails at present among all, even among the members of the church (for whom this treatise is principally intended,) is too evident to require any proof. And how unnatural is it, that the members of any society should be ignorant of its origin and establishment, the principles on which it was instituted, and the rules by which its credit and dignity have been, supported? This ignorance, as a fayman * of the church of England observes, which on other occasions is only extremely absurd, when applied to the principles of our ecclesiastical constiti tion, is highly reprehensible in itself, and attended with the, most dangerous consequences. Many will be surprised, and look upon it as a novelty to be told (what yet is the old and true doctrine ) *• Treatise on the Church, &c. by Wm. Stevens, Esq. 1799. A |