A95762:249
The judgement of the late Arch-bishop of Armagh, and Primate of Ireland. Of Babylon…
The judgement of the late Arch-bishop of Armagh, and Primate of Ireland. 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. / Published and enlarged by Nicholas Bernard D.D. and preacher to the Honourable Society of Gray's-Inn, London. Unto which is added a character of Bishop Bedel, and an answer to Mr. Pierces fifth letter concerning the late primate.The judgement of the late Arch-bishop of Armagh, and Primate of Ireland. 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 ministery. Of the old form of words in ordination. Of a set form of prayer. / Published and enlarged by Nicholas Bernard D.D. and preacher to the Honourable Society of Grayes-Inne, London. 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.
Quest. 2 2. What if the ordainers, being of the Ministry, be found not to have been of clean hands themselves, i. e. of evil lives, is their ordination good?
Quest. 2 2. What if the ordainers, being of the Ministry, be found not to have been of clean hands themselves, i. e. of evill lives, is their ordination good?
Answ. I answer, 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.
Answ. I answer, 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.