{63b} Such was the extent of discipline indeed, that even common Christians in passing temporarily to another Church, had to take letters of communion from their Bishop. {65a} See Notes, No. II. {65b} “Per Successiones Episcoporum pervenientem (h. e. Ecclesiam) usque ad nos, judicantes confundimus omnes eos qui quoquo modo . . . præter quam oportet colligunt.”—S. Irenæus, in lib. iii. adversus Hæreses, c. 3. In which may be seen the Evidence of the teaching of Polycarp, St. John’s disciple. {66} “Quis enim _fidelis_ servus et prudens quem constituit Dominus ejus super domum suam ut det cibos in tempore?”—Quod ad _Apostolos ceterosque Episcopos et Doctores_ parabola ista pertineat manifestum est: maxime ex eo quod apud Lucam (cap. xii.) Petrus interrogat dicens, “Ad nos parabolam istam dicis? an ad omnes?”— . . . Ait Apostolus, (ad Cor. c. iv.) “Ita nos existimet homo, ut ministros Christi et Dispensatores Mysteriorum.”—Hîc jam quæritur inter dispensatores ut _fidelis_ quis inveniatur, &c.—Origen. in Matth. Tractat. xxxi. {67} See the next Lecture, towards the close. {69} The second week in Advent. {81a} See the Nicene Canons. {81b} See Jewel’s Apology. {82a} And again, virtually, by the Gallicans. {82b} This is worthy of their consideration who are apt to be too disheartened at the divisions in the English Church. When the Popedom was a disputed matter for seventy years, what could the plain Catholic laity have thought? It was impossible to avoid the anathema of one Pope or the other, both pretending to infallibility. See Notes No. III. {83} Such, for instance, as those glanced at in p. 47, 48, and referred to in Notes No. II. and III. {88} Connected with this part of the subject few books are so important to be read as “Johnson’s Unbloody Sacrifice.” {89} See also, among others, that striking passage, Rom. xv. 15.## {93a} See Notes No. I. {93b} 1 Kings xxii. 24. {94} As, for instance, the cure of the blind man, by the clay. Or that of the lepers. {98} Sermons on Baptism, Absolution, and the Eucharist. {99a} Bp. Hall’s Episcopacy by Divine Right, p. 6. {99b} See Jewel, and Hooker. Ed. Keble. And Notes, No. IV. {99c} “Non sumus _adeo felices_.” Words of the President of the Synod of Dort. {100} Melanchthon Ep. Luthero, quoted by Bishop Hall. {101} A parallel case, to a certain extent, may be seen in Judges xvii. 5, 6, 13. &c. The priesthood of the LORD was associated partly with idolatrous worship. Micah had graven images and teraphim, yet he, with a Levite for a Priest, was partly blessed by GOD. It is not for us to say how far GOD may bless those who are not strictly obeying Him; nevertheless we must not calculate on this. Obedience is still a duty.