# The Succession Of The Church Of God, Personal Succession, And Succession Of Doctrine.

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From the Latin word succedo, that is, to go under,
or to take the place of one, is derived the word, succession,
which we, though improperly, have mixed
into our Dutch language. The various branches
proceeding from this root, that is, the numerous
words taking their origin from it, together with their
significations, we leave untouched; in general we
understand by it, to follow any one in his place,
right, or reign.

There is a twofold succession, natural and spiritual,
political and ecclesiastical, or civil and ecclesiastical;
but we have to speak here only of the spiritual
and ecclesiastical, and not of the natural, political,
or civil, succession; for only the former, and, by no
means, the latter, belongs here.[41](/en/stories/mm-footnotes/part-5/#Footnote_41)

Now, as succession is of a twofold nature and kind,
so also is each kind of the same twofold and distinct
in itself. This will be shown plainly in the spiritual
and ecclesiastical succession.

In order to present this in a clear light, we say
that the ecclesiastical succession may be considered
in two ways: firstly, with respect to the succession
of persons; secondly, with respect to the succession
of doctrine.

The latter is a sign and evidence of the former,
so that the former cannot subsist without the latter.
Where the latter is, the former need not be looked
for so carefully. But where both are found in truth
and verity, it is not to be doubted that there is also
the true and genuine church of God, in which God
will dwell and walk; which has the promise of an
eternal and blissful life; and about which the holy
Scriptures glory and teach so much.



## Original source

[Read this passage on Project Gutenberg](https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/65855/pg65855-images.html#FNanchor_41)

[Edition details](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/65855)

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