Apostolic Succession

The Bishop of Norwich, in his recent visitation charge to the clergy of his diocese, observed that he dissented altogether from those of his brethren who claimed the light of apostolic succession. On this subject the learned and enlightened Bishop said—"He would earnestly advise the clergy not to bring before their hearers a tenet that would not bear minute inquiry, and was certainly calculated to deter close thinking men from uniting with the church, rather than attract them to it.

Let him refer them for a moment to the supposed chain of apostolical succession. Its first origin had no foundation in Scripture, and its first links were involved in obscurity and perplexity that it was impossible to disentangle. That consideration alone should make them pause before they made such a slender basis the ground of their opinions; and, if they looked to the manifest corruptions that had crept into the Greek and Roman churches, it was very difficult for Christians to say how they could regard these through the dark ages as lights to guide to life. Their own experience would suggest what might be the consequence when such a doctrine was held by men covetous of power, imbued with the love of intrigue, and influenced by worldly ambition. But beyond these considerations, he would remind them that this doctrine was not to be found in any part of the liturgy, or in any of the articles of the Established Church. It was opposed not once only, but repeatedly. Indeed, the only true apostolical succession was the succession of apostolical doctrine."