3
Bilson, Bishop.—Perpetual Government of Christ's Church, ch. ix. p. 105[1].
It will happily, [haply] be granted the Apostles had their prerogative and pre-eminence above others in the Church of Christ; but that limited to their persons, and during for their lives, and, therefore, no reason can be made for their superiority, to force the like to be received and established in the Church of Christ for all ages and places; since their office and function are long since ceased, and no like power reserved to their successors after them. I do not deny but many things in the Apostles were personal, &c. ... yet, that all their gifts ended with their lives, and no part of their charge and power remained to their aftercomers, may neither be confessed by us, nor affirmed by any, unless we mean wholly to subvert the Church of Christ. ... The Scriptures once written, suffice all ages for instruction; the miracles then done, are for ever a most evident confirmation of their doctrine; the authority of their first calling liveth yet in their succession; and time and travel, joined with God's graces, bring pastors at this present to perfection; yet the Apostles' charge to teach, baptize, and administer the Lord's Supper, to bind and loose sinners in heaven and in earth, to impose hands for the ordaining of pastors and elders, these parts of the Apostolic function and charge are not decayed, and cannot be wanted in the Church of God. There must, either be no Church, or else these must remain; for without these no Church can continue.
- ↑ As quoted by Dr. Spry in his Bampton Lectures, p. 311.
