TREATISE

ON THE

Government of the Church,

IN WHICH THE

DIVINE RIGHT OF EPISCOPACY

Is maintained, and the doctrine of the

SUPREMACY OF THE BISHOP OF ROME

Proved to be contrary to the SCRIPTURES,
And writings of the Fathers of the first three hundred years

after Christ.-IN WHICH ALSO
Several important points are explained and illustrated, viz.

THE

Unity of the Catholic Church,
Sin of Schism, Nature and Vindication of the Establishment

And Liturgy of the united Church of
ENGLAND & IRELAND, &c.

WITEL

Occasional remarks on several Popish books lately published.
Edua.

Baztirok
COMPILED FROM THE MOST CELEBRATED DIVINES.

" And they continued stedfastly in the apostles doctrine
and fellowship for communion,) and in breaking of bread,
and in prayers,” Acts 2. 42.

“ It must needs be that offences come, but woe be. to that
man by whom the offence cometh.” Matt. 18. 17.

PRINTED BY R. SMITH,
AND SOLD BY W. WATSON, 7, CAPEL-STREET,

AND R & J. HODGSON, HIGH-STREET,

BELFAST.

PREFACE.

are

I AM persuaded, that the following treatise which attempts to explain the nature of the GOVERNMENT which Christ has established in his church, will require no apology, since all who profess themselves, christians

so closely interested in the subject of it.

That gross ignorance on this subject, prevails at present among all, eyen among the members of the church (for whom this treatise is principally intended,) is too evident to require any proof. And how unnatural is : it, that the members of any society should be ignorant of its origin and establishment, the principles on which it was instituted, and the rules by which its credit and dignity have been supported ? This ignorance, as a layman * of the church of England observes, which on other occasions is only extremely absurd, when applied to the principles of our ecclesiastical constitii tion, is highly reprehensible in itself, and attended with the most dangerous consequences.

Many will be surprised, and look upon it as' a nevelty to be told (what, yet is the old and true doctrine) Treatise on the Church, &c. by. „Wm. Stevens, Esq. 1799.