Page:Delineation of Roman Catholicism.djvu/483

 CsiP. X�.] OlDEls. 477 Latin without the consent of the Greek Church, might choose the mat- ter for itself. "The third opinion is, that no matter or form is sufficient for ordi- nation, unless the consent of the church is obtained. Hence it results, that ordination, though complete in all its other parts, for want of the approbation o/' the church, becomes null and void." Such were the sentiments of Father Courayer in his dissertation on the ordination of the Church of England.* Of the same opinion was Habertus.' "The fourth opinion teaches that the matter of ordination was insti- tuted by Christ; b,t that one form was for the west, and committed to Peter, consisting of anointing and reaching of the instruments; but the other was for the use of the east, and was committed to Paul, and con- sisted in imposition of hands." This was the sentiment of Harduin, and contained in his $ucces.ion of EngiisA BisAops, against the doc- trines of Father ConreFer.  "The fifth is that of those who consider both the imposition of hands and the reaching of the instruments to constitute the matter; but the form consists of the prayers corresponding to the actions. But these do not explain the thing in the same way: for some distinguish im- position of hands from that action by which the instruments are reached, but others confound them. Some suppose the reaching of the instru- ments to be instituted by Christ, but others are of the opinion that this was introduced, not by Christ, but by the church, according to the power conceded to her." "The sixth opinion, for the essential matter of ordinatioh, acknow- ledges only the reaching of the instruments, and Tot the form, the words corresponding to them." �' The seventh opinion places the matter in the imposition of hands only, and that the prayer alone.is its form. But the reaching out of thq instruments, with the corresponding words, is an accidental rite." Thus in three orders/ there' are seven distinct opinions concerning the matter and form. Aocording to this proportion, were the five other orders as fruitful in diversity of opinion, the number of distinct opinions respecting the form and manner of the seven orders would be at least sixteen. And this tea in a point which they esteem by no means un- important. Indeed, the form and matter of ordination are among the leading points for which they unchurch Protestants, and claim for themselves succession from Christ and his apostles. 2. Some Roman Catholics hold imposition of hands to be non-es- sential or accidental, as Dominicus a Soto. Others aftlnn it to be es- sential, as Petrus a Soto, Hosius, BeHarmine, &c. To those who believe it to be essential, we reply-- We readily- grant that it is a comely and decent ceremony, but it is not of the essence of ordination, so that without it there could be none. For when Matthins was chosen to be an apostle, he was not chosen by imposition of hands, but by !or. Nor did our Lord use this ceremony in ordaining or appointing the apostles. In the decree of Eugenius, or of the Florentine Council, there is no mention of imposition of ha, ida, but the matter is the delivering of the instruments, such as of the chalice with wine, and of the paten with bread in ordaining a presby- ter. And how can imposition of hands be a necessary part of oralinn- 1 ,Goocle
 * Prt , c. iS. ? Origlnes Ecclesiaatica, c. 20.

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