An Essay on Apostolical Succession Author:Thomas Powell Subtitle: Being a Defence of a Genuine Protestant Ministry, Against the Exclusive and Intolerant Schemes of Papists and High Churchmen, and Supplying a General Antidote to Popery : Also, a Critique on the Apology for Apostolical Succession General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1846 Original Publisher: G. Lane Subjec... more »ts: Apostolic succession Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. Excerpt: SECTION II. TBE . STATE OF THE GENERAL QUESTION. Having exhibited a general view of the doctrine of succession as taught by these high Churchmen, it may now be proper to clear our way by giving the true state of the question. The succession divines maintain, -- 1. That bishops are, by Divine Right, an order superior to, distinct from, and having powers, authority, and rights incompatible with presbyters, simply as presbyters : 2. That the bishops of this order are the Sole SuccessOrs of the apostles as Ordainers of other ministers, and Governors both of pastors and people : 3. That this succession is a Personal Succession, viz. -- that it is to be traced through an historical series of persons, validly ordained as bishops, transmitting, in an unbroken line, this episcopal order and power to the latest generations: 4. That no ministry is Valid, except it have This episcopal ordination; and that All ordinances and sacraments are Vain, except they be administered by such episcopally ordained ministers. Now we deny every one of these positions. And we shall show, -- 1. That bishops and presbyters are, by divine right, the Same Order ; and that presbyters, by divine right, have the same power and authority as bishops; that OrdinaTion by presbyters is equally valid with that of bishops ; and, consequentl...« less