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AND THEIR REFUTATION. 303
87. "We answer, that the Church is a body, as St. Paul
writes, in which our Lord has assigned the duties and obliga
"
tions of each individual : Now you are the body of Christ, and
members of member. And God indeed hath set some in the
Church: first, apostles; secondly, prophets; thirdly, doctors"
other
(I. Cor. "
xii, 27, 28). And in another place he : says And
same pastors and doctors" (Ephes. iv, 11). And he adds, after
"
wards : Are all doctors"
(I. Cor. xii, 29). God, therefore, has
appointed some pastors in his Church to govern the flock ; others,
doctors, to teach the true doctrine, and he charges others, again,
not to allow themselves to be led astray by new doctrines :
" Be
not led away with various and strange doctrines" (Ileb. xiii, 9) ;
but to be obedient and submissive to the masters appointed
to them :
"
Obey your prelates, and be subject to them,
for they watch, as being to render an account of your souls"
(Heb. xiii, 17). Who, then, are these masters whom our Lord
has promised to assist to the end of time. They were, in the
first place, the Apostles, to whom he said :
"
Behold, I am with
you all days, even to the consummation of the world" xxviii, 20). He promised them the Holy Ghost, who
(Matt,
would
remain always with them, to teach them all truth :
"
I will ask
the Father, and he shall give you another Paraclete, that he
may abide with you for ever" (John, xiv, 6). Arid when he, the
"
Spirit of Truth, is come, he will teach you all truth" (John,
xvi, 13). The Apostles, however, being mortal, should soon
leave this world, and how, then, could we understand the promise
that the Holy Ghost would perpetually remain with them, to
instruct them in all truth, that they might afterwards communi
cate it to others ? It must be understood, therefore, that they
would have successors, who, with the Divine assistance, would
teach the faithful people, and the Bishops are exactly these suc
cessors, appointed by God to govern the flock of Christ, as the
" Take heed to
yourselves, and to the whole flock,
Apostle says :
wherein the Holy Ghost hath placed you bishops to rule the
Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood"
(Acts, xx, 28). Estius (16), commenting on this passage, says :
"
Illud, in quo vos Spiritus Sanctus posuit &c de iis qui
(16) Estius, in 20 Act. v. 12.