The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

"Though"APOSTOLICITT. 59Consequently, no church can claim to be the trueone whose doctrines differ from those of the Apostles, or whose ministers are unable to trace, by anunbroken chain, their authority to an Apostolicsource ; just as our Minister to England can exerciseno authority in that country unless he is duly commissioned by our Government, and represents itsviews.The Church, says St. Paul, is "built upon the1foundation of the Apostles," so that the doctrinewhich itpropagates, must be based on Apostolicteachings. Hence St. Paul says to the Galatians :an angel from heaven preach a Gospel toyou beside that which we have preached to you, lethim be anathema." 2 The same Apostle gives this"admonition toTimothy The : things which thouhast heard from me before many witnesses, the samecommend to faithful men who shall be fit to teachothers also." 8 Timothymust transmit to his disciples only such doctrines as he heard from the lipsof his master.Not onlyis it required that ministers of the Gospel should conform their teaching to the doctrine ofthe Apostles, but also that these ministers should be"ordained and commissioned by the Apostles or theirlegitimate successors. Neither doth any man,"says the Apostle, take the honor to himself, but hethat is called by God, as Aaron * was." This textevidently condemns all self-constituted preachers1Eph. ii. 20. *Gal. i. 8. 8 II. Tim. ii. 2. *Heb. v. 4