ic



JS8 Tke CJu^MmmPrkako^i.
-liiglKflt degite ; lor in him was no spot of
sin, and *^ die Father gave not the Sphrk
^* by measiue unto him:^^ but even he did^
not ent»r upon his ministry until he was
butwatdly appointed to it. ^^ Christ glo-
** rified not himself to be made a high
priest; but he that said unto him, Thou
art my Smi, this day hare I begotten
tliee\^^ Men may bdieve that they have
an inward call, but that does not give them
a ri^t to exercise the office of the priest-
hood, unkss it be aocompailied either by
the power of woridng miracles, or by an
outward appointment and ordination. The
power of wwiring miracles has long siilcfe
oeased to be conferred on men. An out-
ward appointment or ordination appears
dien to be necessary to constitute a minister
of Christ, an ambassador and messenger
of God; "for how shall they preach except
" they be sent^f The question then is,
What kind of appointment is vjalid ? The
Church of England maintains, that ordina-
tion by bishops is most agreeable to the
practice of the Apostles, and to that of the
Churches which itiey established ; and thdt
'^ Heb. T. 5. . ' Rom. z. 15.
The Chrirtim Pri^$thood. 1 %9

by nmas of auoh ordimt&on, the office of
the piiesAiood has been deliv^ed down in'
suoeeaskm from the times of the Apostle,
indeed from Christ himself.
JLet me lequest your attention to the
fbUovring considerations.
