still more that we have not received that
blessing in vain.

Chapter V.

APOSTOLICITY.

The true Church must be Apostolical. Hence in the Creed framed in the
first Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, in the year 325, we find these words:
"I believe in the One, Holy, Catholic and _Apostolic_ Church."

This attribute or note of the Church implies that the true Church must
always teach the identical doctrines once delivered by the Apostles, and
that her ministers must derive their powers from the Apostles by an
uninterrupted succession.

Consequently, no church can claim to be the true one whose doctrines
differ from those of the Apostles, or whose ministers are unable to trace,
by an unbroken chain, their authority to an Apostolic source; just as our
Minister to England can exercise no authority in that country unless he is
duly commissioned by our Government and represents its views.

The Church, says St. Paul, is "built upon the foundation of the
Apostles,"(70) so that the doctrine which it propagates must be based on
Apostolic teachings. Hence St. Paul says to the Galatians: "Though an
angel from heaven preach a Gospel to you beside that which we have
preached to you, let him be anathema."(71) The same Apostle gives this
admonition to Timothy: "The things which thou hast heard from me before
many witnesses the _same_ commend to faithful men who shall be fit to
teach others also."(72) Timothy must transmit to his disciples only such
doctrines as he heard from the lips of his Master.

Not only is it required that ministers of the Gospel should conform their
teaching to the doctrine of the Apostles, but also that these ministers
should be ordained and commissioned by the Apostles or their legitimate
successors. "Neither doth any man," says the Apostle, "take the honor to
himself, but he that is called by God, as Aaron was."(73) This text
evidently condemns all self-constituted preachers and reformers; for, "how
shall they preach, unless they be sent?"(74) _Sent_, of course, by
legitimate authority, and not directed by their own caprice. Hence, we
find that those who succeeded the Apostles were ordained and commissioned
by them to preach, and that no others were permitted to exercise this
function. Thus we are told that Paul and Barnabas "had ordained for them
priests in every church."(75) And the Apostle says to Titus: "For this
cause I left thee in Crete, ... that thou shoulds