Untitled - Rore Sanctifica

Ixxiv
Introductory Essay.
prevent his irregular consecration from being
disputed, shows that such was at that time the
received
practice of the Church. There is
absolutely nothing to lead us to infer that the
practice had ever been otherwise.
2. The words used by the consecrator, after
the oath administered to the Bishop elect, are :
" GOD
strengthen thee, GOD help thee to fulfil
I, by virtue of that commission
all this ! And
which, in GOD S name, His congregation hath
given unto me* hereby
deliver unto thee the
King s appointment, and therewith the office oj
*
See ab. p. Ixvii. Baaz, (L. iii. c. 19) quotes this doctrine
" from the first Protestant Archbishop. We assert (against
the Papists that this honour does not ) belong to shave
lings and anointed alone : yea, as far as they are such, not at
all to them but to all the faithful of ; CHRIST, and we say
that all these are true and lawful priests of the New Tes
tament, to whom the word of GOD and all priestly offices
are committed, and that, of GOD. Which we thus prove.
Whomsoever GOD, the FATHER, SON, and HOLY GHOST, i.e.,
the whole Trinity, adopts by Baptism among the sons of
GOD, He, at the same time, through the incorruptible
anointing, viz., the HOLY SPIRIT, makes them lawful and
spiritually ordained priests, that (as S. Peter says),
They may shew forth the virtues of Him Who called them
out of darkness into His marvellous light. Nor can there
be had a more lawful and valid ordination. But since the
power of choosing belongeth to the Church, that is ever
lawful and valid which she does in choosing ministers,
from whatever Presbyter or Bishop those elected shall
afterwards receive imposition of hand, so he be faithful
and Christian." -(Chr. Kern., ib., pp. 429, 430.) This is
genuine Lutheranism. But it could hardly be said more
explicitly, that all being alike priests and bishops, and
nothing more is done in ordination than to select persons
to exercise an office which they, in common with all other
Christians, have already.