manner let all reverence the Deacons as Jesus Christ, and the Bishop as the Father, and the Presbyters as the sanhedrim of God, and college of the Apostles."

This passage is found in the 3rd section of the epistle to the Trallians.

If these passages represent the Presbyters as standing in the place of the Apostles, they place the Bishop as far above them as he could by any language be represented to be.

Dr. Miller has not quoted a few words which, in the passage quoted last, immediately follow the word Apostles: viz. “ WITHOUT THESE THERE IS NO CHURCH." These words throw a blaze of light on the subject. It must be remembered, that Dr. Miller is contending for the Presbyterian doctrine, that there is but one order of ministers and that this order, viz. the Presbyters are the successors of the Apostles, authorized by the same commission and standing on a footing of official equality with those to whom it was originally delivered, so far as their office was ordinary and perpetual: on the contrary, that the Episcopalian doctrine is that there are three orders of ministers of which the Presbyter is the second, the Bishop being his superior. The words omitted, viz. without these there is no Church, show that there were three orders. These what? These three orders just named in the fore part of the quotation, viz. the Bishop, the Presbyters, and the Deacons. Without these there is no Church; and of these the Bishop is the chief, not the Presbyters: for if the words be considered as 66 representing the presbyters as standing in the place of the Apostles," they represent the Bishop as standing in the place of God. It is evident that Dr. Miller represents Ignatius as meaning what he never intended to saywhat he has not said-and the very opposite of what he obviously has repeatedly said.

Dr. Miller's next quotation is in these words: "Bc subject to your Presbyters as to the Apostles of Jesus Christ our hope."

This passage is found in the second section of Ignatius's epistle to the Trallians; and is detached from its connexion with the words which precede and follow it. Take the whole passage and the meaning is as different as it well can be. The whole passage runs thus, the words in Italics, inclosed as before, being those which Dr. Miller quotes: "It is therefore necessary, THAT AS YE DO, SO WITHOUT YOUR BISHOP YOU SHOULD DO NOTHING: ALSO [be ye subject to your Presbyters, as to the Apostles of Jesus Christ our hope;] in whom

if we walk, we shall be found in him. The deacons also, as being the ministers of the mysteries of Jesus Christ, must by all means please all. For they are not the ministers of meat and drink, but of the Church of God." [See Appendix, 2d section of the epistle to the Trallians.]

It is evident that here also Ignatius is represented as saying what he does not say, and as meaning what he never intended.

Dr. Miller's next quotation is as follows: "Follow the Presbytery as the Apostles."

This passage is taken from the 8th section of Ignatius's epistle to the Smyrneans, and does not stand there in the order the words are quoted. The passage runs thus: viz.,❝SEE THAT YE ALL [follow] YOUR BISHOP, AS JESUS CHRIST, THE FATHER: AND [the Presbytery, as the Apostles."] The words in small capitals are omitted, those only in Italics, and inclosed as before, are quoted by Dr. Miller. Read the words in Italics without those in small capitals, and the passage runs precisely as Dr. Miller has quoted it; and it has, to the ear, the appearance of supporting his doctrine. Read the whole as Ignatius wrote it, and the conviction is irresistible that his meaning was not what Dr. Miller represents it to be.

Dr. Miller proceeds in his fourth letter, to make some extracts from Ignatius, which he prefaces with the following observations: "I will venture to affirm, that instead of yielding to the cause of diocesan Episcopacy, that efficient support which is imagined, they do not contain a single sentence which can be construed in its favour; but on the contrary, much which can only be reconciled with the primitive, parochial Episcopacy, or Presbyterian government, so evidently portrayed in scripture, and so particularly defined in my first letter." [The words in Italics are thus printed in Miller's Letters.]

"The following extracts from these epistles, are among the strongest quoted by Episcopal writers in support of their cause. 99* (Miller's Letters, p. 140.) At the close of these extracts, he makes some observations which end with the following words: "I have been thus particular in attending to the testimony of Ignatius, because the advocates of prelacy have always considered him as more decidedly in their favour than any other Father, and have contended for the genuineness of his writings with as much zeal as if the cause

*To cut off all occasion of doubt, as to the fairness used in translating these extracts, I think proper to state, that I adopt the translation of Archbishop Wake." [Dr. Miller's own note.]

of Episcopacy were involved in their fate. But you will perceive that these writings, when impartially examined, instead of affording aid to that cause, furnish decisive testimony against it." (Miller's Letters, p. 148.) Here follow the extracts: "Epistle to the Church of Ephesus. Sect. v. "Let no man deceive himself; if a man be not within the altar he is deprived of the bread of God. For if the prayer of one or two be of such force, as we are told; how much more powerful shall that of the Bishop and the whole Church be? He, therefore, that does not come together into the same place with it, is proud, and has already condemned himself."

"Epistle to the Church of Magnesia. Sect. 2. "Seeing then, I have been judged worthy to see you, by Damas, your most excellent Bishop, and by your very worthy Presbyters, Bassus, and Apollonius, and by my fellow servant, Sotio, the Deacon-I determined to write unto you." Sect. 6. "I exhort you that ye study to do all things in a divine concord; your Bishop presiding in the place of God; your Presbyters in the place of the council of the Apostles; and your Deacons most dear to me, being intrusted with the minis, try of Jesus Christ, who was with the Father before all ages, and appeared in the end to us. Let there be nothing that may be able to make a division among you; but be ye united to your Bishop, and those who preside over you, to be your pattern and direction in the way to immortality." Sect. 7. "As, therefore, the Lord did nothing without the Father, being united to him; neither by himself, nor yet by his Apostles; so neither do ye any thing without your Bishop and Presbyters: Neither endeavour to let any thing appear rational to yourselves apart; but being come together into the same place, have one common prayer, one supplication, one mind; one hope, in charity, and in joy undefiled. There is one Lord Jesus Christ, than whom nothing is better. Wherefore come ye all together as unto one temple of God; as to one altar; as to one Jesus Christ; who proceeded from one Father, and exists in one, and is returned to one."

"Epistle to the Trallians. Sect. 2. Whereas ye are subject to your Bishop as to Jesus Christ, ye appear to me to live not after the manner of men, but according to Jesus Christ; who died for us, that so believing in his death, ye might escape death. It is therefore necessary, that, as ye do, so without your Bishop, you should do, nothing. Also be ye subject to your Presbyters, as to the Apos

tles of Jesus Christ our hope, in whom if we walk, we shall be found in him. The Deacons, also, as being the ministers of the mysteries of Jesus Christ, must by all means please all." Sect. 7. "Wherefore guard yourselves against such persons. And that you will do, if you are not puffed up; but continue inseparable from Jesus Christ our God, and from your Bishop, and from the command of the Apostles. He that is within the altar is pure; but he that is without, that is, that does any thing without the Bishop, and Presbyters, and Deacons, is not pure in his conscience."

"The Epistle to the Church at Smyrna. Sect. 8. "See that ye all follow your Bishop, as Jesus Christ, the Father; and the Presbytery as the Apostles: and reverence the Deacons as the command of God. Let no man do any thing of what belongs to the Church separately from the Bishop. Let that Eucharist be looked upon as well established, which is either offered by the Bishop, or by him to whom the Bishop has given his consent. Wheresoever the Bishop shall appear, there let the people also be: as where Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church. It is not lawful, without the Bishop, either to baptize, or to celebrate the holy communion. But whatsoever he shall approve of, that is also pleasing to God; that so whatever is done, may be sure and well done." Sect. 12. "Isalute your very worthy Bishop, and your venerable Presbytery, and your Deacons, my fellow servants; and all of you in general, and every one in particular, in the name of Jesus Christ."

"Epistle to Polycarp. "Ignatius who is also called Theophorus, to Polycarp, Bishop of the Church which is at Smyrna; their overseer, but rather himself overlooked by God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ: all happiness!" Sect. 1. "Maintain thy place with all care, both of flesh and spirit: Make it thy endeavour to preserve unity, than which nothing is better. Speak to every one as God shall enable thee." Sect. 4. "Let not the widows be neglected: be thou, after God, their guardian. Let nothing be done without thy knowledge and consent: neither do thou any thing but according to the will of God; as also thou dost with all constancy. Let your assemblies be more full: inquire into all by name: overlook not the men nor maid servants; neither let them be puffed up, but rather let them be more subject to the glory of God, that they may obtain from him a better liberty." Sect. 5. "It becomes all such as are married, whether men or women, to come together with the consent of the Bishop; that so their marriage may be according to godliness, and not in lust."

"These are the passages in the Epistles of Ignatius, which Epis copal writers have triumphantly quoted, as beyond all doubt establishing their claims. Nothing stronger or more decisive is pretended to be found in these far famed relics of antiquity. Now I ask you, my brethren, whether there is in these extracts, a sentence that can serve their purpose?" (Dr. Miller's Letters, pp. 140—144.)

But before the reader allows himself to answer the question with which this quotation from Dr. Miller closes, let him compare these extracts of his, with the epistles themselves in the appendix; and he will find that the Doctor has not by any means brought forward the strongest passages.

Dr. Miller has not quoted section 4 of the epistle to the Ephesians, which contains a very strong passage in Italics. see the appendix.

In quoting section 5, he has omitted the words printed in Italics, another strong passage: see the appendix.

He has not quoted section 6, containing a strong passage in Italics: see appendix.

In quoting section 2 of the epistle to the Magnesians, he has omitted the passage in Italics, a strong one: see appendix.

He has not quoted section 3, containing a passage decisively showing the inferiority of Presbyters to the Bishop, and that they are bound to yield all reverence to him according to the power of God the Father: see appendix.

In quoting section 2 of the epistle to the Trallians, he has omitted the following short sentence immediately succeeding that which he quotes; viz. "For they (that is the Deacons) are not the ministers of meat and drink, but of the Church of God." This passage bears directly and decisively on the controversy between the Episcopalians and the Presbyterians; the latter insisting that there is but one order of ministers in the Church, viz. the Presbyters, and that Deacons are not ministers of the word.

Dr. Miller has not quoted the 3rd section of the epistle to the Trallians, containing a most decisive passage in Italics: see the appendix.

He has not quoted section 12 of the same epistle, also containing a decisive passage in Italics.

He has not quoted section 13 of the same, containing a strong passage in Italics.

He has not quoted section 4 of the epistle to the Philadelphians, containing a strong passage: and,