AN ESSAY

ON THE

ABSOLVING POWER OF THE CHURCH;

WITH ESPECIAL REFERENCE TO

THE OFFICES OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND

FOR THE

ORDERING OF PRIESTS

AND THE

VISITATION OF THE SICK.

WITH COPIOUS ILLUSTRATIONS AND NOTES.

BY THE REV. T. H. LOWE, M. A.

VICAR OF GRIMLEY IN THE COUNTY OF WORCESTER,
AND CHAPLAIN TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE VISCOUNT GAGE.

"Let us endeavour to find out what was the meaning of the words at the
"time they were spoken, not what they may now imply." DEAN TUCKER.

OXFORD,

AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS FOR THE AUTHOR ;

SOLD BY J. PARKER, OXFORD; AND MESSRS, RIVINGTON, LONDON.

MDCCCXXV.

៣

ΤΟ

THE RIGHT REVEREND

FOLLIOT H. W. CORNEWALL, D. D.

LORD BISHOP OF WORCESTER,

THE

FOLLOWING ESSAY

IS MOST RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED,

AS

A SMALL TOKEN

OF THE AUTHOR'S GRATITUDE

FOR MANY FAVOURS.