A64635:232
Certain discourses, viz. of Babylon (Rev. 18. 4.) being the present See of Rome…
Certain discourses, viz. of Babylon (Rev. 18. 4.) being the present See of Rome (with a sermon of Bishop Beadles upon the same words) of laying on of hands (Heb. 6. 2.) to be an ordained ministry, of the old form of words in ordination, of a set form of prayer : each being the judgment of the late Arch-bishop of Armagh, and Primate of Ireland / published and enlarged by Nicholas Bernard ... : unto which is added a character of Bishop Bedel, and an answer to Mr. Pierces fifth letter concerning the late Primate.Certain discourses, viz. of Babylon (Rev. 18. 4.) being the present See of Rome (with a sermon of Bishop Bedels upon the same words) of laying on of hands (Heb. 6. 2.) to be an ordained ministry, of the old form of words in ordination, of a set form of prayer : each being the judgment of the late Arch-bishop of Armagh, and Primate of Ireland / published and enlarged by Nicholas Bernard ... : unto which is added a character of Bishop Bedel, and an answer to Mr. Pierces fifth letter concerning the late Primate.
London: printed for John Crook, 1659
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
I answer,1 Yes; For 'tis not a personal act, but an act of office, as 'tis not the learning of the Judge makes any decree valid, but his authority and commission for it; A Popish Judge gives a just sentence in Court, his sentence is not erroneous and Antichristian: though himself may be so; his act is good in Law: how bad soever he is in ⟨p. 218⟩matter of Religion, & so the act of Ordination being an act of office is not nulled, or voided by personal defilements; It was the error of the Donatists, to put the virtue of Ministerial acts wholly upon the holiness of the person ministering; no, as Saint Augustine, saith, a foul hand may sow good seed.
I answer,1 Yes; For 'tis not a personal act, but an act of office, as 'tis not the learning of the Judge makes any decree valid, but his authority and commission for it; A Popish Judge gives a just sentence in Court, his sentence is not erroneous and Antichristian: though himself may be so; his act is good in Law: how bad soever he is in ⟨p. 218⟩matter of Religion, & so the act of Ordination being an act of office is not nulled, or voided by personal defilements; It was the errour of the Donatists, to put the vertue of Ministerial acts wholly upon the holinesse of the person ministring; no, as Saint Augustine, saith, a foul hand may sow good seed.
- 1Answ.
But there is one objection more to be answered,1 frequently in the mouths of men, viz. Your Orders were derived from Rome, and therefore Antichristian.