probably was consecrated in the room of the other James, the brother of John, whom "Herod had killed with the sword." However this may be, the words of Scripture are plain as to the command given by the Holy Spirit for their separation from the brethren, for a particular purpose, and the Apostles sealed their commission by the laying on of hands, with fasting and prayer.

We find, however, another title of the ministers of Christ, occurring in the Acts of the Apostles, -that of "poßurepot," or "Elders." It occurs πρεσβύτεροι,” first in the eleventh chapter. When the disciples of Antioch sent relief for the brethren of Judæa, they sent it to "the Elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul." In the fourteenth chapter, after Paul and Barnabas had been consecrated, and received their full powers, "they went every where confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue stedfast in the faith; and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. And when they had ordained them Elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them unto the Lord, in whom they believed." The words in the original,

χειροτονήσαντες αὐτοῖς πρεσβυτέρους,” are translated," when they had ordained them Elders,” i. e. ordained Elders, for the benefit of the disciples, by the imposition of hands, with fasting and prayer. These “ πρεσβύτεροι,” οι Elders," are certainly also called “ Επισκόπους,” οι " Bishops." Limited

"

B

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as I am by time, it is not possible to go through the arguments and explanations which have been written on this subject; let me only generally refer you to the Seventh Book of Hooker's Ecclesiastical Polity. The constitution of the Church seems shortly to have been this as the Apostles fulfilled their Lord's command, and "taught all nations," they left behind them in different cities a college of Elders, or Bishops, at first without distinction of office, or particular precedency, to exercise the general works of the ministry. The Apostles still reserved a superintending authority over them; as St. Paul says of himself, he had "the care of all the Churches 1." Afterwards it seemed expedient to send some one else, or to consecrate one of the previously ordained Presbytery of the place, as a chief Bishop, or Angel," of each particular Church. He was looked upon as the immediate representative of the Apostle; he had authority over the other Elders in matters of Church discipline; he had the power of making additions to, and of filling up vacancies in their number; the express commission of St. Paul to Titus is contained in my text,-" For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain Elders in every city, as I had appointed thee." So long as one of the Apostles remained alive,

1 2 Cor. xi. 28.

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these presiding Bishops, throughout the world, were subject to that Apostle; so that the orders in the Church stood, Ist, Apostles ; 2dly, Bishops, or Elders; 3dly, Deacons. When all the Apostles were dead, the second class was divided. Each of the presiding Bishops I have named exercised their full apostolical authority; they received no new nomination, nor consecration; as ministers of Christ they had precisely the same powers during the life of the Apostles, only they did not arrogate the supreme jurisdiction within their respective dioceses, whilst one appointed by our Lord himself remained. They did not adopt the title of Apostle, because, though the word itself in its etymology did not imply so much dignity as that of Bishop, nor even Elder, they yet regarded it as sanctified, set apart as it were as the peculiar designation of those twelve, who had been especially chosen by Jesus Christ himself, and those two who were added by the direction of the Holy Ghost. The Elders who remained, and the Deacons, continued in the same situation; and the three orders stood, Ist, Bishops, 2dly Presbyters, or, as we have farther Anglicised the word, Priests ; and, 3dly, Deacons.

As I have hinted before, many questions arose even in the earliest times, respecting the exact duties of each order. Of some distinction existing there was no doubt at all. The Jews, who were perhaps the most likely persons to dispute it,

had been accustomed to such a constitution since the days of Moses. The Nethinim were subordinate to the Levites, the Levites to the Priests, the Priests to those twenty-four who were ChiefPriests, and they all to the High-Priest. So we have seen, in the Christian Church, Deacons subordinate to Elders or Priests, Priests to Bishops, and them all to the Apostles, and the Universal Head, even Jesus Christ. When the Bishops and Priests were confounded, they all had an equal power in administering the Word and Sacraments. When the distinction was made between them, they all retained this same power; but the Bishops had an additional authority, which the Elders or Priests never had-authority to ordain other Ministers set apart for the service of Christ, to set in order all things that were wanting, to rebuke the Elders who erred. We find them Pastors of Pastors. We have seen Jesus Christ, the great Head of the Church, choosing the first Ministers in it; we have seen the Holy Ghost appointing others; the Apostles ordaining more. What person, calling himself a believer in Jesus Christ, has ever denied that the Apostles acted under the guidance of the Holy Spirit? No one indeed can do so without rejecting Scripture altogether. Why then should any one, who professes to admit Scripture, refuse to admit the Apostolical constitution of the Church, and to recognize the three orders of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons ? It is not on

any human authority, not even on the testimony of those who lived with the Apostles, that we assert this was the constitution of the primitive Church of Christ-this was his Apostolical Church, which he promised to be with even "until the end of the world."

It were difficult to say why this constitution was ever questioned, did we not know that in every age there have been found men of proud and restless spirit, impatient of all authority, save that exercised by themselves. These were they against whom the Apostle warns Timothy, "the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall be turned unto fables '."

Although, however, we do not found our belief upon their writings, we gladly receive the testimony of the ancient fathers, and others. This testimony gives us the most positive truth that for one thousand eight hundred from the very years, beginning to this day, the Church of Christ has been governed by Bishops, having permanent superiority, and ruling power over other Ministers of the Word and Sacraments, who are ordained to such office by them. In the times of the Apostles -in the times of the early Fathers, no one took this "honour of the Ministry upon himself; he

12 Tim. iv. 3.