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The continuity of the Church of England in the sixteenth century
The continuity of the Church of England in the sixteenth century Author:Samuel Seabury Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: the title of Defender of the Faith, and had received its apostolic benediction for himself and all his posterity, propounded to the Bishops and Clergy in the Pro... more »vincial Synods of England, to the celebrated Universities, and to the great Monasteries of the kingdom, the following question, viz : " "Whether the Bishop of Rome hath any greater jurisdiction conferred on him in Holy Scripture, in this realm of England, than any other foreign Bishop ?"—requiring them, like men of virtue and profound literature, (so ran the directions to the University of Oxford,) diligently to intreat, examine, and discuss the same, and to return their opinions, in writing, under their common seal, to the " mere and sincere truth of the same."f This question lies at the foundation of the whole controversy, and it is therefore important to note both the answer and the unanimity with which it was given. The answer was, that " the Bishop of Borne has not any greater jurisdiction conferred on him in Holy Scripture, in this realm of England, than any other foreign Bishop." The declaration is guarded. It makes no reference to the Orders of the Roman Pontiff; that is, to his character as a Bishop or Vicar of Christ, but only to his jurisdiction or power of government. J It does not deny the right of his jurisdiction in Italy, nor the fact of his jurisdiction in England. It simply denies that jurisdiction is conferred on him by the Divine Law in the realm of England. Within these limitations, how See Appendix A. t See Appendix B. t By Orders, is meant the power to preach the Word and administer the Sacraments of the New Law in the name of Christ. The power of conferring Orders, vested by Christ's institution exclusively in bishops, is derived to the Bishop of Rome in common with other bishops, calle...« less