The book of the priesthood : an argument in three parts

Thomas Stratten

Sujets

• Clergy
• Antipope

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• Publié par: les_archives_du_savoir
• Nombre de lectures: 8
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 11 Mo

Extrait

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Stratten, Thomas.
The book of the priesthoodifXTHE BOOK
THE PRIESTHOOD:
AN ARGUMENT,
IN THREE PARTS.
BY..
THOMAS STRATTEN,
SUNDERLAND.
FIRST AMEIUCAX FROM THE FIRST LONDON EDITION.
NEW-YORK
:
PUBLISHED BY JONATHAN LEAVITT.
BOSTON :
CROCKER A: UREWSTER.
1831.PTllNTED BY R. & G. S. WOOD, 261 PEARL-STREET.—
PREFACE.
" groundIt is necessary, frequently, to visit the on
ascertainwhich Christianity was first established, to
the limits extent of the primitive faith, and toand
violence, or lost byrecover the parts taken by unjust
injudicious concession." Bishop Bristol.of
thatThe writer of the following pages has visited
ground, for the purpose of examining the use which
Levitical terms and Jewish analogies inwas made of
this ofperiod of primitive purity,—in the writings those
who only, in the Christian church, were intrusted with
inspired authority. To himself, the visit has been
deeply interesting. and felt with a forceHe has seen,
every spotof impression unknown by him before, that
of the ground is hallowed by the presence, the wisdom,
Deity. He willthe grace, and the glory of IncarnateIV PREFACE.
thebe gratified in accomplishment of the first object
of his desire, in proportion as that impression shall be
obvious to the eye of those vs^ho may deem what he
has written worthy their perusal. On this point, he
feels that he is hnked by ties of strongest sympathy
with all, in whatever ecclesiastical boundaries they
are included, or whatever formularies they may em-
"ploy, lovewho our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity,"
"and desire the universal proclamation of the gospel
of the grace of God."
There is however, one conviction which has resulted
his examination, in which, on its first statement,from
to an equal extent, thehe cannot expect, sympathy
and approbation of every class of Christian readers.
That conviction is, that Levitical terms and Jewish
analogies have been, for the most part, improperly
Christian church, from a period shortlyemployed in the
subsequent to the decease of the Apostles down to the
present time and that the native beauty of Christianity;
cannot be clearly seen, nor the fulness of its consola-
tions be generally enjoyed, nor its expansive energies
be completely developed, until these terms and analo-
gies are, in the common use, and well-informed inten-
originaltion of the church, restored to their and in-
spired application.
The grounds of that conviction, and the conse-
quences which Author con-they involve, fatal, as the