CHAPTER III.

THE CHURCH.

Par.

2,

1. The principle of Christian life spiritual

3. Seeks an external development, first, because we have i
a body as well as a soul

Page

85

85

4. Next, for its own consummation as an inward prin-

5. Next, because the law of duty binds each man to be-

nefit his neighbour, and because human nature is

social.

6. A great part of the province of common action is ne-

cessarily relative

7, 8. The principle of sociality requires to be regulated in

its operation by fixed limits

Which limits are best provided by some positive

Divine institution

87

87

88

88

9. And Christian religion ordains a system of joint

action

10. And the whole human life is socially constituted

11. And all religions have provided for an external de-

velopment

12. Need of such a system from the external obstacles to

Christianity

93

93

94

95

95

99

13. From the internal obstructions

14. Scope and worth of these presumptive arguments

15. The general result: that right reason leads us to an-

ticipate the doctrine of the Visible Church.

16-19. Of certain popular and lowered notions of the

Church

England

20. Not recognised by the Church of England

21-29. Nor in Scripture; where the Christian religion is for the

most part regarded collectively in the person of the

Church, and the Church is represented as the

subject of prophecy, of preaching, of parable, of

prayer, as the inheritress of the promises, the

body of Christ, and one

30, 31. Objection, that the unity commanded is exclusively

32-37. Objection, that the unity of the body is fulfilled in

the distinction between Christians generally and the

rest of the world

100

107

109

Par.

Page

38-40. Objection that, from the mixture of good and bad

in the Visible Church, it cannot be the Spiritual

Spouse

41. Outline of the result from Scripture, and our lapse

from that standard

42. Cause partly in the Romish excess

43, 45. Partly also from human corruption

46. Of the advantages of return

47. Considered simply as a command

48. It presents a different view and form of action

113

116

117

118

121

122

122

49-52. The Scriptural idea tends to the depression of the idea

of self

123

53. To the growth of Love

127

54. To increase of force by sympathy and by combina-

tion

128

55, 56. To warmth of devotion

129

57. Generally, to maintain the doctrines of grace, and to

facilitate carrying out the details of duty

58-60. Advantages of defence which it gives to the consci-

entious and obedient

61. And of aggression

62-65. Application to the charge of peculiar opinions

66, 67. Tends to corroborate faith

68-71. And to the maintenance of truth

72, 73. All this is applicable primarily to the general and

partially to each particular Church

74-82. Answers to objections from supposed tendency

(75, 76.) to lethargy and formality

132

135

136

139

141

145

147

147

16. Afford a strong historical evidence of Christianity

17, 18. Are the proper constituents of Christian fellowship

19. Testimonies of St. Augustin and of Hooker

20. And the proper means of realising consciousness of

fellowship

170

170

172

173

21. And make the strongest appeal to religious motives.

22. And are a barrier against fanaticism

174

174

23. And against despondency and unbelief

175

24. And exhibit men in their true position as recipients.

25-31. They peculiarly illustrate and defend the proper idea

of spiritual grace; as it respects the Eucharist

176

177

35-38. Cases of the Romanists and of certain divisions of

Protestants, compared

183

39-42. Practical warning therefrom to follow the true middle

3, 4. Questions which arise respecting the ministry out of

the foregoing conclusions

191

5, 6. Opinion that the perpetuity of the Church is in the

doctrine only.

193

79. A society as such implies a government

10-12. Particularly Sacramental ordinances seem to require

194

a specific ministerial agency

196

13-15. The Church and its government historically consti-

tuted in the persons of the Apostles

200

Par.

16. Their office was perpetual

17. And the Ministry in general was exercised (where

not by Divine Revelation) by commission from

them

Page

204

205

18-20. According to the nature of the office as testified by

28-33. Succession in the Church contrasted with that in the

State

35. The question twofold.

36-38. Its theological and practical importance

216

34. Misapprehensions of the points at issue

223

223

224

39. Various theories concerning the channel of the Suc-

cession the Church of England holds it to be the

46. The historical evidence at large classified

47-49. On Chillingworth's objection from the doctrine of

233

chances

234

50. Changes in the use of the terms by which Church

offices were designated

237

51. Relation of the Church to the Jewish polity

52, 53. General view from Scripture of the development of

237

the ministry

238

54. And of the natural limit of the Scriptural records

55, 56. Why it properly takes the form rather of narrative

than of precept

57-59. Independently of the investigation of early history, a

distinct question arises, whether it be granted that

the early Presbyters had the Episcopal power of

order, any conclusion can thence be drawn in

favour of later Presbyters to whom it has not

been given

60. Misapprehension of the issue between Episcopal and

Non-episcopal communions

63. Scope of these inquiries

xi

Page

247

249

250

251

251

254

257

.

266

269

272

279

64. Retrospect, and the course of the remaining argu-

ments proposed

65, 66. Two prefatory cautions

67, 68. The tendencies of the doctrine of Succession as it
respects the general expediency of a clerical order
69-75. As it respects the clergy, from the case of St. Paul,
from reason, and from experience

76, 77. As it respects the relation of governors and people in

the Church

78-80. As it respects individual members of the Church
81-87. As it respects the general ideas of spiritual grace and
of the visible Church

88, 89. Conclusion

CHAPTER VI.

OF THE SPECIFIC CLAIM OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND.

13. View of the discrepancy between the true theory of

the Church and the actual religious condition of

the country

4. The question to be discussed: is the Church of Eng-

land invested, within her own sphere, with Catholic

prerogatives?

282

285

5,

6. It has a material bearing upon the question of legal

establishment

286

7,

8. Has the Church any general ground of her belief

which those dissenting from her have not?

288

9. If she has, she stands in an essentially different posi-

12, 13. Duty of remaining in the communion of the Church

14, 15. Nominal adherence to Apostolic Faith and Scripture

may easily be rendered null

292

294

16-19. Presumption in favour of the Dissenter as compared
with the Deist, from the existence of Scripture

20-27. Analogous presumption in favour of the Church as

compared with the Dissenter, from the historical

and exegetical witness of Christian antiquity

299