Emilius Bayley
Episcopal Fidelity
THIS SERMON IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED
‘Our Reformers seem to have designed to leave a certain latitude on points which they regarded as not of fundamental importance; and if we would approve ourselves genuine disciples of those illustrious men, we must not seek to narrow the basis on which they reared their noble edifice, nor to exclude any whom they intended to admit. As however there are some differences which do not, so there are others also which do, imply the existence of principles adverse to the spirit of our Church, and the prevalence of these ought doubtless to be guarded against.’ – Archbishop Whately,
On the Use and Abuse of Party-Feeling in Religion
. pp. 245, 246.
‘We are not to hold a society together by renouncing the objects of it; nor to part with our faith and our hope, as a means of attaining charity; but rather seek to combine the three; and by earnest zeal, without violence or bigotry, – by firmness, accompanied with moderation, discretion, and temper, – by conciliating adversaries without sacrificing the truth, – and by hearty yet mild co-operation with friends, to obtain the advantages of party-feeling, yet avoid its evils; and promote peace, without falling into indifference.’ —
Ibid.
pp. 29, 30.
A SERMON
‘Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee.’ – 1
Tim.
iv. 16.
Our thoughts turn naturally to-day to the subject of the Christian ministry; and especially to that high office in it to which our brother in Christ is about to be admitted.
Scripture perhaps contains no exact model of the Episcopal office as it now exists. It is not identical with the Apostolate.
1
1
Besides other points of difference, the Apostle held no
local
office: he was essentially a Missionary, moving about from place to place, founding and confirming new churches.
Neither again can it be satisfactorily proved to be precisely identical with the office held by Timothy at Ephesus, and by Titus at Crete. St. Paul’s language implies that the position which they held was temporary; they formed, as it were, the link between the Apostle whose superintendence was occasional, and the bishop whose rule was permanent.
We must rather seek some central idea if we would grasp the highest aim of the Episcopate: and we find that idea not in the outward framework of the Church, but in the truth which it enshrines: not in Apostolic order, however valuable, but in Apostolic doctrine: not in a succession of form, but in a succession of faith, ‘
the
faith once for all delivered to the saints.’ (Jude, 3.)
And this leads us to the text: in which the Apostle touches upon the
official
life, the
personal
life, the
consecrated
life of one who was called upon to discharge for a while Episcopal functions: ‘Take heed unto the doctrine:’ ‘Take heed unto thyself:’ ‘Continue in them:’ enforcing his exhortation by the
promise
, ‘for in doing