Page:Tracts for the Times Vol 1.djvu/75

Rh favour or kindness to them personally. Thus sometimes people speak against those who are put over them in this world's matters, as the King. They say, "What is the King to me? he never did me any good." Now, I answer, whether he did or not, is nothing to the purpose. We are bound for 's sake, to honour him because he is King, though he lives far from us; and this all well-disposed right-minded people do. And so, in just the same way, though for much higher reasons, we must honor the Bishop, because he is the Bishop;—for his office-sake;—because he is 's Minister, stands in the place of the Apostles, is the Shepherd of our souls on earth, while is away. This is, to look at things not as seen, but as unseen; to be as sure that the Bishop is 's appointed Representative, as if we actually saw upon his head a cloven tongue like as of fire, as you may read in the second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles.

But you will say, how do we know this, since we do not see it. I repeat, the Bishops are Apostles to us, from their witnessing, and suffering for Him.

1. They witness in their very name, for He is the true Bishop of our souls, as St. Peter says, and they are Bishops. They witness in their station;—there is but one  to save us, and there is but one Bishop in each place. The meetingers have no head, they are all of them mixed together in a confused way; but we of 's Holy Church have one Bishop over us, and our Bishop is the Bishop of ——. Many of you have seen him lately, when he confirmed in our church. That very confirmation is another ordinance, in which the Bishop witnesses. Our confirms us with the Spirit in all goodness; the Bishop is His figure and likeness, when he lays his hands on the heads of children. Then comes to them, to confirm in them the grace of Baptism. Moreover, the Bishop rules the whole Church here below, as rules it above; and here again the Bishop is a figure or witness of. And further, it is the Bishop who makes us Clergymen 's Ministers. He is 's instrument; and he visibly chooses those whom chooses invisibly, to serve in the Word and Sacraments of the Church. And thus it is from the Bishop that the news of redemption and the means of grace have come to all men; this again is a witnessing. I, who speak to you concerning, was ordained to do so by the Bishop; he speaks in me,—as wrought in him, and as  sent. Thus the whole plan of salvation hangs together.— the True Mediator above; His servant, the Bishop, His earthly likeness; mankind the subjects of His teaching; the Author of Salvation.