Occasioned by the "Tracts for the Times;" and the publication of a new edition of the works of the Rev. Richard Hooker, with additions arranged by the Rev. John Keble.

Abstract

I propose, in the present Tract, to discuss the momentous question, how far the claim advanced on behalf of the Anglican Church to the rights and privileges of Apostolic Succession is valid. The " Tracts for the Times" are for ever inculcating upon their readers, the belief that the Anglican Church possesses authority by apostolic descent. I will first establish this point by a few extracts.

"We have, been born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. The Lord Jesus Christ gave his spirit to his Apostles; they, in their turn, laid their hands upon those who should succeed them ; and these, again, on others : and so the sacred gift has been handed down to our present bishops, who have appointed us as their assistants, and, in some respects, their representatives."- No. i. p. 2.

"We, who believe in the Nicene Creed, must acknowledge it a high privilege that we belong to the apostolic Church. How is it that most of us are, almost avowedly, so, cold and indifferent in our thoughts of this privilege ?...... For many years we have been much in the habit of resting our claim on the general duties of submission to authority, of decency and order, of respecting precedents long established, -instead of appealing to that warrant which marks us exclusively for God's Ambassadors." - No. iv. p. 1.

Thus we see that, at the very outset of their publication, the Tract writers are careful to inculcate this idea of the existence of a succession from the Apostles in the hierarchy of the Anglican Church, and of a consequent obligation on the part of the laity to pay it submission and obedience. But the tract No. xv. is entitled, '' On the Apostolical Succession in ihe· English Church." It treats of the popular objection (and a well-grounded objection we - could easily prove it), that in assuming this privilege of apostolic succession, and its consequent rights, High-Churchmen must recur to Rome as the fountain-head of their orders, which is inconsistent in men that reprobate "Popery."... [Excerpt]