Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

LETTERS

ON THE

MINISTRY, RITUAL, AND DOCTRINES

OF THE

PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH,

ADDRESSED TO THE

REV. WM. E. WYATT, D. D.

Associate Minister of St. Paul's Parish, Baltimore, and Professor of Theology in
the University of Maryland,

In reply to a Sermon

EXHIBITING SOME OF THE PRINCIPAL DOCTRINES OF THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL
CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES.

BY JARED SPARKS, A. M.

MINISTER OF THE FIRST INDEPENDENT CHURCH OF BALTIMORE.

Baltimore:

PUBLISHED BY N. G. MAXWELL,

NO. 140 BALTIMORE STREET.

1820.

JOHN D. TOY, PRINTER.

[ocr errors]

11-12-57 Fax * --

CONTENTS.

LETTER I.

On the ministry of the episcopal church.

Reasons for discussing the subject-Our Saviour gave no instructions respecting any particular mode of church governmentSaid nothing of three orders of ministry-The first church at Jerusalem was governed by the apostles, elders, and brethrenDeacons The ceremony of ordination was performed by any officers of regular standing in the church-Paul and Barnabas were ordained by "prophets and teachers"-Opinions of Kuinoel, Rosenmuller, Hammond, and Le Clerc-Episcopalians fond of quoting the Fathers-Authority of the Fathers-Opinions of Milton and Jeremy Taylor-Ignatius' epistles-Testimony of the Fathers against episcopacy-Opinions of Paley, Locke, the bishop of Lincoln-Ecclesiastical government essentially a government of the people.

LETTER II.

On the ritual of the church.

p. 5

Baptism-Church form not scriptural-Sign of the cross- -Con-
firmation-These forms nearly the same as in the Catholic
church-Ordination service-Expediency and utility of forms
of prayer Their disadvantages-Origin of Saints' days-Bos-
suet.
p. 53

LETTER III.

On the authority of the church in controversies of faith. Our Saviour gave no authority to any man, or body of men, to judge others for their religious opinions-Christians have no other rule of faith than the Bible-Chillingworth-Athanasian creed-Historical sketch of the first conventions of the American episcopal church after the revolution-Injurious tendency of creeds and articles, both on the clergy and the people -Many christians cannot conscientiously worship according to the liturgy of the church-Inconsistency of holding to the authority of tradition, and rejecting infallibility-How creeds keep schism out of the church-Milton's opinion.

p. 79

(RECAP)

5678

898

iv

LETTER IV.

On the doctrinal character of the thirty-nine articles.

The fundamental doctrines of calvinism fully set forth in the articles and homilies-Ninth article-Homilies-Seventeenth article-Bishop Burnet's exposition-Opinions of the first reformers calvinistic-Nowel's catechism-Latimer's sermonsBishop's Bible Oxford theses-Ridley's letter on election and predestination-Lambeth articles-Heylin-University of Cambridge Synod of Dort-English delegates were all calvinists— Strange doctrine of the eighteenth article-Arminian mode of interpreting the articles indefensible-Proposed summary of faith.

LETTER V.

p. 109

Doctrine of the trinity as held by the episcopal church. Litany-The worship it inculcates-Doctrine of the trinity contained in the articles-Opinions of learned episcopalians -There is one true God-The Lord Jesus Christ is not this one true God, but a subordinate being-Doctrine of two natures-The Holy Spirit is not the true God-Jews had no conceptions of any threefold distinction in the Deity-Nor had the disciples of Jesus-Nor did the apostles preach any such doctrine after the ascension of Christ-The christians of the first century were principally, if not entirely, unitarians-Origin of the doctrine of the trinity.

LETTER VI.

p. 142

Exposition of certain texts of scripture supposed to favour the doctrine of the trinity.

Objections answered-Use of reason-Mysteries-Burgh's Reply to Lindsey-Jones on the Trinity-His singular mode of interpreting the scriptures-All the texts considered in which Christ is called, or supposed to be called God-None of these prove him to be the Supreme Being-Texts, which are thought to ascribe such properties or powers to Christ, as could belong only to God-How Christ and the Father are one- -Christ possessed the attributes of God in a limited degree-God the only object of religious homage-Form of baptism-Communion of the Holy Spirit-Concluding remarks.

p. 195

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

WHEN your late discourse on the ministry and doctrines of the Protestant Episcopal Church first appeared, I engaged with much interest in its perusal. The design you proposed of explaining at large the principal doctrines, and distinguishing characteristics of this church, led me to anticipate much pleasure and improvement from the execution. If I have been disappointed in some of my expectations, I could not fail to be gratified with the spirit of candour and good intention which pervades your discourse; and I hope I have not read it without profit, if I have without conviction.

In the remarks I am about to make, I have no design to point out intentional misrepresentations, or to question your motives. Nor is it so much your own private opinions with which I am concerned, as the doctrines and principles you have attempted to explain and defend, and which you represent as form. ing the most striking features of the church to which you belong. Among these I cannot but think there are many errors; and not a few, which can have no other than an injurious tendency on the cause of truth

« AnteriorContinuar »