opinion, as better calculated to widen the breach that now separates us, than to hasten the advent of that glorious day when we shall all meet in the unity of faith.

I have no doubt that such may be the immediate effect of this attempt to call public attention to this subject; but, far from considering this result as incompatible with the promotion of Christian union, I have always regarded it as an almost necessary preliminary to that measure. The Catholic Church will never recognize the English orders; of this all must be convinced: and hence, I am inclined to think that the last bar to union will not be so much difference of doctrine, as the personal considerations involved in the nullity of English ordinations. The skilful surgeon, who wishes to effect a permanent cure, is not deterred by the displeasure of his patient from probing to the bottom the wound under which he suffers; and he feels sustained against the irrational indignation of him who suffers the painful operation, by the conviction that thus and thus alone can be laid the foundation of a permanent cure. If the conviction of the nullity, or, at least, of the extremely doubtful character of the Anglican ordinations, in the minds even of a comparatively small number, be the ultimate result of the present investigation, the writer will feel that he has not laboured in vain; although, meanwhile, he should have been found to have innocently given cause to an increased bitterness of feeling on the part of those whose ministerial character he has presumed to question.

The opinion of Dr. Lingard, regarding the fact of Parker's consecration, expressed so strongly and so ably maintained by that learned writer, has also had its influence in directing my attention to the subject of this volume. It may, indeed, appear presumption in me to contest the reality of any fact which has the support of Dr. Lingard's powerful advocacy. Still I am satisfied that that distinguished writer, for whom I entertain a profound respect, can have no objection to have his opinion submitted to examination, especially as all that he has written on this subject,—at least, all that has come to my knowledge, is given at full in the following pages. In venturing to disprove his arguments, I have been careful to avoid any thing that might be construed into a manifestation of personal disrespect, or that might seem to warrant the suspicion that I found it necessary to use any other mode of controverting his opinion, than a dispassionate examination of the motives on which it is grounded.

If it be nécessary to add still something more to justify in the reader's mind the appearance of the present volume, I shall merely say, that the republication of the famous Courayer's Defence of English Ordinations, which is to form an early volume in the series of works that make up the "Churchman's Library," was an additional motive for me to devote a portion of my leisure to the review of that work, at least, so far as it consists of an examination of facts. Add to all this, the wish to vindicate the character

of the old English Catholic Divines, who impugned the validity of the Anglican ordinations, from the charges, so frequently made against them, of blind credulity or a determined will to deny the most certain facts; and the reader will see that I did not want sufficient motives to institute an inquiry, which many circumstances would have made me gladly see undertaken by a more competent person.

A word as to the manner in which I have treated this question. I have endeavoured to avoid every thing not necessarily connected with the validity of English ordinations; and have, therefore, omitted the consideration of some questions, that either do not concern the facts of the case, or, at most, can be regarded as of minor importance. I have stated the principles which I have followed in this examination; and have, in every instance that it was possible for me, as was very frequently the case, referred to the original authorities whom I had occasion to quote. Whether I have been always so fortunate as to arrive at the truth of some obscure facts mentioned in the following pages, or whether I have been always just in the inferences I have drawn from them, I do not presume positively to assert; although I am conscious of having employed all the diligence, and profited by all the opportunities of acquiring correct information, which I possessed; and I can safely say that I commenced, carried on, and concluded the inquiry, with no other object in view than to attain a knowledge of the truth.

Page 141,

ERRATUM.

for "surname," read "name."

ANGLICAN ORDINATIONS.

CHAPTER I.

Introduction.

In the following pages I propose to examine the question, whether the ordinations of the Church by law established in England be valid, and, consequently, whether we are to regard as validly ordained ministers of the Gospel those who have received orders in that Church, or, who, like the ministers of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States, derive their orders from it. This is a question of fact, and not of doctrine. This fact is resolvable into two other facts of which it is composed, namely, first, whether the first bishop of the Church of England received consecration from a bishop who himself had been duly consecrated; and second, whether the form of such consecration was adapted for the purpose to which it was employed. The first of these two facts is to be established or impugned like any other event, purely by historic evidence; and although the second requires a reference to a subject of doctrinal discussion, I will endeavour in treating of it to keep within the bounds of what can be maintained by testimony.