Defence of the English Ordinal, With Some Observations Upon Spiritual Jurisdiction and the Power of the Keys - Softcover

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1872. Excerpt: ... The Spiritual Nature of the Power received. 39 who receive imposition of hands, declares also the truly spiritual nature of that power, and its Divine origin. The power, says Hooker, is such as no Prince or Potentate, no King or Csesar, on earth can give. Thus he regarded the form as a constant witness against the false inference which some of the Reformers1 made from Rom. xiii., that because princes and magistrates are called "ministers of God," they had the power not only of suspending Bishops and Priests from the exercise of spiritual functions, but even of conferring spiritual authority: or that the mere appointment of Princes or the election of the people could create Bishops without any necessity for consecration. To this Hooker adds, as a further reason for maintaining this form, the weight and dignity which it gives to all the acts and functions of the Priest's office. The Spirit, he says, not only assists us in our ways, but assumes to Himself the actions which belong to our place and calling. "Whether2 we preach, baptize, communicate, condemn, give absolution or whatsoever, as disposers of God's mysteries, our words, judgments, acts, and deeds are not ours, but the Holy Ghost's." Such a notion of the dignity of the priesthood was, he thought, necessary, not only to correct all profane or careless use of the office, but also3 for encouragement to 1 Cranmer's Works (Parker Society), vol. ii., p. 117. The spiritual power is, however, plainly distinguished from the " power of the sword" in the ' Institution of a Christian Man,' vol. ii., pp. 101-2. Hooker, Book v., 77, 8. 3 Ibid., v., 77, 10. 40 A Power not received from the State. bear the worlds contempt, considering the reputation which the power of order hath in the eye of this present world. I...