By the kind providence of God it appears that he has not permitted any apostolic succession to be preserved, lest the members of his Church should seek that in an uninterrupted succession which must be found in the HEAD alone. The papists or Roman Catholics, who boast of an uninterrupted succession, which is a mere fable that never was and never can be proved, have raised up another head, the POPE. And I appeal to themselves, in the fear of God, whether they do not in heart and in speech trace up all their authority to him, and only compliment Christ as having appointed Peter to be the first bishop of Rome, (which is an utter falsity, for he was never appointed to such an office there, nor ever held such an office in that city, nor, in their sense, any where else;) and they hold also that the popes of Rome are not so much Peter's successors as God's vicars; and thus both God and Peter are nearly lost sight of in their papal enumerations. With them the authority of the Church is all in all; the authority of Christ is seldom mentioned.

Ezek. 34:1-6 The people became as sheep without a shepherd, were give up as a prey to their enemies, and the land was utterly desolated. N rank or office can exempt from the reproofs of God's word, men wh neglect their duty, and abuse the trust reposed in them.

Ezek. 34:7-16 The Lord declared that he intended mercy towards the scattered flock. Doubtless this, in the first place, had reference to the restoration of the Jews. It also represented the good Shepherd' tender care of the souls of his people. He finds them in their days of darkness and ignorance, and brings them to his fold. He comes to their relief in times of persecution and temptation. He leads them in the ways of righteousness, and causes them to rest on his love an faithfulness. The proud and self-sufficient, are enemies of the tru gospel and of believers; against such we must guard. He has rest for disquieted saints, and terror for presumptuous sinners.

Ezek. 34:17-31 The whole nation seemed to be the Lord's flock, yet the were very different characters; but he knew how to distinguish betwee them. By good pastures and deep waters, are meant the pure word of God and the dispensing of justice. The latter verses, 23-31, prophesy of Christ, and of the most glorious times of his church on earth. Unde Him, as the good Shepherd, the church would be a blessing to all around. Christ, though excellent in himself, was as a tender plant ou of a dry ground. Being the Tree of life, bearing all the fruits of salvation, he yields spiritual food to the souls of his people. Ou constant desire and prayer should be, that there may be showers of blessings in every place where the truth of Christ is preached; an that all who profess the gospel may be filled with fruits of righteousness __________________________________________________________________

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