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that Philip also preached JEsUs to the Ethiopian, and baptized him. The same Philip is in another place called an evangelist, literally a bearer of good news, or of the Gospel.

It is evident, therefore, that there were, besides the apostolic, at least two other offices in the ministry, those of the Presbyters and the Deacons; and the matter of fact is opposed to the truth of the inference of Dr. Miller: and that inference being the point upon which his whole argument turns or rests, and being unfounded and contrary to plain facts, the argument built upon it falls to the ground.

The second and third positions, that the names, Bishop and Elder were names of the same office, no one disputes-it is not even the question in dispute the question is, whether or not there was in the Church in those times an office superior to these Presbyters or Bishops, with power to appoint them, to receive and try charges against them, and to rebuke and reprove them publicly if they sinned.

If any one has any doubt on this subject, let him turn to the first epistle to Timothy and see what power he had over these Presbyters or Bishops.

f

Paul had been in Ephesus preaching and disputing daily for three years, when he determined to go to Macedonia, Greece, Jerusalem, and Rome; and besought Timothy, his constant companion for several years, to abide at Ephesus; and that he might know how he ought to behave or conduct himself in the Church, he wrote, he tells him, this epistle. In it he gives him sundry directions as to doctrine, and as to his conduct towards all the members of the Church, male and female, old and young, rich and poor, in and out of office. He tells him what kind of men will suit for the office of Presbyter and what for that of Deacon, and warns him to lay hands suddenly on no man; if the elders rule well, they were to be honoured; if they were to be accused, he was not to receive the accusation without two or three witnesses, and if they sinned, he was to rebuke them before all, that OTHERS' also may fear; and Paul charges Timothy before GOD, and the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and the elect Angels, to observe these things, without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.m

Here Paul manifestly shows that Timothy is to be the judge and punisher, if these Presbyters sin; but if Timothy act partially there is no redress, and the appeal of Paul is to GOD, there being no human authority over him: and seeing that his charge is so important, and that Timothy is but a young man, he charges him solemnly several times to do his duty, and uses these most emphatic words, I give thee charge in the sight of

GOD, who quickeneth all things, and before CHRIST JESUS, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession, that thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, UNTIL THE APPEARING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST."

It will subsequently appear that there is evidence in the Acts to show that Timothy continued in Ephesus in this charge, five years and a half at least: how much longer is uncertain.

The argument of Dr. Miller on the fourth position consists of an attempt to show the analogy between the Christian Church and the Jewish Synagogue with respect to name, mode of worship, titles of officers, their character, duties, and powers, and the mode of ordaining officers. On the other hand, the Episcopal writers contend that the analogy is stronger between the Christian Church and the Temple worship, its officers, &c.; and for this they bring the most express declaration of the Christian fathers. Thus Jerome, on whose evidence Dr. Miller rests with great confidence, asserting that it is decisive in his favour, on this point says, "We know that what Aaron and his sons were, that the Bishop and Presbyters are.'

It is, however, useless to enter upon an analogical argument; especially as it involves the necessity of discussing the main question in order to settle it, and the main question cannot be decided by the decision of such a subordinate one. If either party should feel pressed by it, they could not be satisfied to abide by a decision unless the main question were discussed.

It is proposed next to notice some statements which Dr. Miller seems to consider as enough to settle the question. He says, "The Scriptures also represent Presbyters as empowered to ordain and as actually exercising this power. Of this we can produce at least three instances of the most decisive kind.

"The first is recorded in Acts xiii., as follows: Now there were in the Church that was at Antioch, certain prophets and teachers, as Barnabas and Simeon, that was called Ñiger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the Tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the LORD, and fasted, the HOLY GHOST said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. This (he says) is the most ample account of an ordination to be found in Scripture; and it is an account which, were there no other, would be sufficient to decide the present controversy in our favour."

It is proper to remark here, that Dr. Miller does not make any attempt to show that the Scriptures represent Presbyters as empowered to ordain, and as actually exercising the power. He only brings forward certain cases which he represents as instances in which the power was actually exercised. Dr. Miller

n 1 Tim. vi. 13, 14.

o Epist. ad Nepotian.-See BowDEN, Vol. I. p. 6. [p. 4, 2d ed.]

may have intended nothing more than this in the expressions above mentioned, but it is proper to make the remark, that stating the cases is all he has done.

With respect to the cases brought forward, it requires nothing more than a little attention to the history of Paul and Barnabas in the Acts of the Apostles, to discover that the ceremony related above was not an ordination to the ministry. Paul was converted at or near Damascus, and gives the following account of his conversion and call to the ministry, in his speech before King Agrippa. Whereupon as I went to Damascus, with authority and commission from the chief priests, at midday, O King, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me, and them which journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And I said, Who art thou, LORD? And he said, I am JESUS whom thou persecutest. But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee A MINISTER AND A WITNESS both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee: to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God; that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified, by faith that is in me. Whereupon, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision: but showed first unto them at Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and return to GOD, and do works meet for repentance.P

Luke, speaking of Paul's conversion, uses language to the same amount with the latter part of this quotation. He says of Paul, And straightway (that is, immediately after his conversion) he preached CHRIST in the Synagogues, that he is the SON OF GOD."

Paul, in his epistle to the Galatians, speaking of this same important transaction, says, when it pleased GOD to reveal his Son in me, that I might PREACH HIM AMONG THE HEATHEN; IMMEDIATELY I conferred not with flesh and blood: neither went I up to Jerusalem to them WHICH WERE APOSTLES BEFORE ME; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. Then AFTER THREE YEARS, I went up to Jerusa lem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. But other of the Apostles saw I none, save James the LORD's brother. Now, the things which I write unto you, behold, before GOD, I lie not. Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and

p Acts xxvi. 12-20.

VOL. II.--18

q

Acts ix. 20.

Cilicia; and was unknown by face unto the Churches of Judea which were in CHRIST: but they had heard only, that he which persecuted us in times past, now preacheth the faith which he once destroyed. And they glorified GOD in me. Then FOURTEEN YEARS AFTER, I went up AGAIN to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also."

Here we find Paul, while journeying to Damascus to destroy the disciples, suddenly arrested, convinced of his error, converted to GOD-sent immediately to the Gentiles, to open their eyes and to turn them from the power of Satan to GOD-straightway preaching to them that CHRIST was the SON OF GOD, first in Damascus, and afterwards in Arabia and the regions of Syria and Cilicia-and finally going to Jerusalem, fourteen years after his first visit to that city to see Peter, and seventeen years after his conversion, in company with Barnabas.

Let us now see where he met with Barnabas, and what the employment of the latter had been.

Barnabas is first mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles in the following manner: Neither was there any among them that lacked; for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the Apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. And Joses, who by the Apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The Son of Consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the Apostles' feet. When, some years afterwards, Paul first went to Jerusalem after his conversion, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. But BARNABAS took him, and brought him to the Apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the LORD: &c. and they then received Paul. Some time after that, the Church at Jeru-salem having heard that of the Gentiles at Antioch, a great number believed and turned to the LORD-sent forth BARNABAS that he should go as far as Antioch. Who when he came, and had seen the grace of GoD, was glad, and exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the LORD. For he was a good man, and full of the HOLY GHOST and of faith. And much people was added unto the LORD. Barnabas, finding the prospects so favourable in Antioch, went to Tarsus, to seek Saul: and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year THEY assembled themselves with the Church, and TAUGHT much people. And the disciples were called Christians first_in Antioch. And in those days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the SPIRIT, that there should be great

r Gal. i. 15-24. ii. 1.

s Acts iv. 34-37.

t Acts ix. 26, 27.

dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Cæsar. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea: which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul."

And then it was that Saul or Paul, as he states in his epistle to the Galatians, went again to Jerusalem with Barnabas. While Paul and Barnabas were in Jerusalem, they had a conference with the Apostles James, Peter, and John-and Paul tells us in his epistle to the Galatians, that When James, Cephas, (or Peter) and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and BARNABAS the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen and they unto the circumcision.-And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.

After their return to Antioch-it is not said how long-at least seventeen years after Paul had been preaching the gospeloccurred the transaction related in the beginning of the 13th chapter of the Acts, which Dr. Miller calls the ordination of Paul and Barnabas: -Now there were in the Church that was at Antioch, certain prophets and teachers, as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the Tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the LORD, and fasted, the HOLY GHOST said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them` away.

The language of the HOLY SPIRIT here is, Separate me Barnabas and Saul FOR THE WORK WHEREUNTO I HAVE CALLED THEM. Certainly not for the work of the ministry. The LORD JESUS CHRIST had called Paul to that work at least seventeen years before, (see page 205; and Barnabas had been occupied in the same way for several years, the latter part of the time in connexion with Paul; and when they were in Jerusalem together, the Apostles James, Peter, and John, had agreed with Paul and Barnabas, that the former should go to the Jews, the latter to the Gentiles, (see above.) It is only necessary to read the 13th and 14th chapters of the Acts with attention, in order to ascertain what work it was they were then called to do. They immediately went on a tour through several countries of Asia and Islands of the Mediterranean sea, and after having traversed them, preaching the Gospel for a considerable time, they returned to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work