of charity, or the giving of alms, be equally applicable to the subject before us? "In as much as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me."

Dwight's Theology.-Hopkins' System.-Lathrop on Ephesians.

SECTION XIX.

Christian Church.

Q. What is a Church?

A. The original signification of the word church was an assembly collected together for any purposes whatever. It is used at the present day, to mean,

1. All the professed believers in Christ, over the whole earth. This is called the visible Church, b

2. The word is sometimes used to mean all real Christians, both in heaven and on earth. This is called the invis. ible Church.

3. These are sometimes divided, and all real believers on earth, are called the Church militant; and all that are in heaven, the Church triumphant. c Professed believers are sometimes divided, and each division is called a Church, Thus the American Church, the Greek Church, the Presbyterian Church, &c. are phrases that are often heard. But the word is sometimes used to mean a voluntary association of professed believers, for the purpose of enjoying the institutions and privileges of the gospel.

Q. What are the proper officers of a Church?

A. Pastors and deacons. Perhaps there is no question that can be suggested, that has occasioned more contention than this. It cannot be expected that a subject as extensive

a Acts xix. 32. b Eph. iii. 21. c Heb xii. 23.

as this has at length become, can be thoroughly investigated here, consistently with the limits of this work. Nothing more will be attempted than to adduce a few of the most décided arguments in proof of the answer we have now given.

1. There is but one class of teaching or instructing officers who have ever received by divine authority, any regular commission. It certainly would seem that every distinct order or class of officers, would be distinctly commissioned. What evidence can we have that any orders have ever been appointed by the great Head of the Church, unless their duties have been described, or in other words, unless they have received a definite commission? And if more than one order have been appointed, have we not a right to expect that we shall find with equal clearness their different commissions? The commission which was given by our Saviour to the first of these classes, is contained in the tollowing words: " "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth," a How natural is this introduction when about to give a commission which was to remain in full force to the end of time!-one which is of vital importance to the existence and prosperity of his cause, and which never could have been given only by "Go the great Head of the Church. ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you; and lo, I am with you alway even to the end of the world. Amen." b This is the commission that is given to pastors or teachers; and not an intimation, it may be stated with confidence, can be found in the history of the Saviour or his Apostles, of a distinct com. mission to a higher order of men. It has no bearing against the truth of this statement, that the Apostles at some times exercised an authority superior to the other pastors. The a Mat xxviii. 13. b Mat xxviii. 19, 20,

Apostles were endowed with powers to work miracles; but their powers were not given in the commission, and the com. mission was to remain in force "to the end of the world." It will not be plead for any order of men that have existed since the days of the Apostles, that they are in the possession of these extraordinary gifts; consequently if there be a class of teachers, which are superior in authority to others, such superiority must be seen in their commission. But that any thing of this character has been discovered in the commission, to which every teacher must go for his authority, is what it is believed has never been pretended. This commission gave authority to preach, and to baptize, and as all other duties are essential to fulfil the design of the gospel, they are included by implication. From any thing that we can discover, every man that has a right to teach, has the same right to baptize; and all who have a right to do both, in point of authority stand upon a level. The appointment of the other classes of officers which we have named, is given with the same clearness and decision. The account is contained in the sixth chapter of Acts.

2. The different names which are given to the first of these classes, are used in the Scriptures in a manner that cannot fail to convince every unbiassed and inquiring mind, that they refer to the same office. If there be an appellation in the whole New Testament, that intimates a superiority in office among those who are appointed to teach, it is that of Bishop. But this word is undeniably used in many places as synonymous with Elder and Presbyter. The Apostle Peter ob"The Elders which are among you I exhort who am also an Elder." He then proceeds to describe their duty"Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof." a From this passage it is plain that the Apos

serves,

al Pet. v. 1-3.

tle Peter considered himself as having no more authority than an Elder. As an Elder he exhorted his brethren. Whereas, had he sustained an office of superior authority by virtue of his commission, there could not have been a fairer opportunity for him to have improved it. What goes still further to confirm this opinion is, that his direction in this passage to the Elders which is translated to take the oversight of, in the Greek, means to oversee or exercise the office of a Bishop. Again, the Apostle Paul sent from Miletus to Ephesus and called the Elders of the Church. In the charge which he gave to the Elders, he directed them to "Take heed to themselves, and to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost had made them overseers." a The word overseer has the same meaning as that of Bishop; it is the only word from which that of Bishop is translated in the New Testament. It is plain from this passage, that these Elders were Bishops, and were made Bishops by the Holy Ghost.

3. From this passage and from some others, it is evident that some single Churches, had a plurality of Bishops b Where a Church is large, a plurality of Pastors or Elders is common; but no instance it is presumed ever occurred, where there was a plurality of Bishops in the modern sense of the word.

4. It is evident that Bishops are no more than Pastors or Presbyters, from the characters they are required to sustain, and the duties they are to perform. "And we beseech you brethren to know them which labour among you and are over you in the Lord." It must be evident at first sight that this would be impossible according to the meaning which many affix at the present day to the word Bishop. The Apostle Paul observes to Titus, "For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting,

a Acts xx 17, 18. b Phil i, 1.

and ordain Elders in every city as I had appointed thee." "If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. For a Bishop must be blameless as the steward of God." a Here the reason which the Apostle assigns, why Titus should ordain such persons for Elders as are blameless is, that a Bishop must be blameless. This must certainly appear unmeaning if he did not design to be understood as referring to the same office, by these two names.

Again, "A Bishop must be one who ruleth well his own house."b"Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour." c From these passages we see that Bishops and Elders both perform the same duty, and of course they are viewed by the Apostles as sustaining the same office. On the whole, it may be stated with confidence, that the opinion that there is in the Church an order of men superior to Elders and Presbyters, never was taken from the Bible. That this is not an uncharitable statement, is evident from the fact that it has been acknowledged, by some of the most able advocates of that sentiment. The Editors of the Christian Observer, frankly acknowledge that "Episcopalians found not the merits of their cause upon any express injunction, or delineation of Ecclesiastical government in the Scriptures; for there is none." But if it be not found in the Scriptures, it certainly ought not to be in our creeds; and it is most likely it never would have been, had it not been for that spirit that "loveth to have the pre-eminence."

Q. Is it not evident that Timothy was Bishop, in the modern sense of the word, of Ephesus, and Titus of Crete?

A. It is difficult to determine from what this opinion arose. The following considerations seem however, sufficient to show that it is entirely unfounded,

a Titus i, 7. b 1 Tim. iii. 2. c 1 Tim. v. 17.