What Hoadly is attacking is the theory of a visible Church of Christ on earth, with the immense superstructure of miracle and infallibility erected thereon.

The true Church of Christ is in heaven; and the members of the earthly society can but try in a human, blundering way, to act with decency and justice.

Apostolic succession, the power of excommunication, the dealing out of forgiveness for men's sins, the determination of true doctrine, insofar as the Church claims these powers, it is usurping an authority that is not its own.

The relation of man to God is his private affair, and God will ask from him sincerity and honesty, rather than judge him for his possession of some special set of dogmas.

Clearly, therefore, if the Church is no more than this, it has no supernatural pretensions to oppose to the human claims of the State.