Untitled - Rore Sanctifica

Introductory Essay.
Ixvii
express their belief, that their ministers are. law
fully ordained, that
"
any pastor may ordain ;"
their practice implies that those ordained by "any
pastor" can do whatever they suppose can be done
by any one ! To receive Episcopal consecration
or ordination would only be a concession to our
a removal of a "hindrance
supposed prejudices,
to Christian union and fellowship between them
and us, of something which prevents the surer
and more perfect Church development, which,
from a mutual giving and receiving, would en
sue." Such ordination or consecration of those
who believed that they received nothing, and
that they had nothing to receive, would be a
on the power and jurisdiction of Bishops," also subscribed
by all the preachers present at the diet of Smalcald, and
received in their symbolical books. (Melanchthon, in his
Apology, spoke of "our priests." Subsequently they are
only called "
"ministers.") Since, of Divine right, the de
grees of Bishop and Pastor are not different, it is manifest
that an ordination made by a Pastor in his own Church is
valid. Therefore, since the ordinary Bishops become the
enemies of the Church, or will not impart ordination, the
Churches retain their right. For wherever the Church is,
there is the right of administering the Gospel. Wherefore
it is necessary that the Church should retain the right of
calling, choosing and ordaining ministers. And this right
is a gift properly given to the Church, which no human
authority can take from the Church, as Paul also attesteth
to the Ephesians, when he saith, He ascended, He gave
gifts unto men. And he numbers among the gifts proper to
"
the Church, Pastors and Teachers," and says that such
are given for the ministry, for the edification of the Body
of CHRIST. Where, then, the true Church is, there must
needs be the right of choosing and ordaining ministers, as,
in case of necessity, a layman, too, absolves, and becomes
the minister and Pastor of another." (Tittm. Libb. Symb.,
pp. 271-2.)