from the testimony of those who succeeded the Apostles in the charge of the Church, that it continued to be so after the times of the Apostles.

WHEN important concerns are the subject of controversy, it is of great moment to ascertain the points on which the parties agree, and those which are in dispute. The parties to the controversy now under consideration, agree in some capital particulars. Dr. Miller gives the following striking and correct view of the subject,

"Religion is the common business of all men. Its duties cannot be performed by delegation. Every man is required to examine, to believe, and to obey the Gospel for himself, and for himself to receive the promised reward. We may commit other concerns to the wisdom and fidelity of our fellow-men: but the care of his own soul belongs to each individual; and if he neglect it, no solicitude, no exertions on the part of others, can possibly avail him.

"But although Religion be a concern which equally belongs to every man, yet it has pleased the all-wise Head of the Church to appoint an order of men more particularly to minister in holy things.” "If all the interests of the Church are precious in the view of every enlightened Christian, it is evident that the mode of its organization, cannot be a trivial concern." "Christians, in all ages, are bound to make the Apostolic order of the Church, with respect to the ministry, as well as other points, the model, as far as possible, of all their ecclesiastical arrangements." [Miller's Letters, p. 3, 6, 8.]

These important points agreed upon, the question to be decided is, What was the order of the Church established by the Apostles? 2.* The conversion of Paul and his call to the ministry, are decidedly the most remarkable on record. The Lord Jesus Christ

*The sections are numbered for the convenience of reference.

called to him at mid-day, when overwhelmed with the brightness of His presence and fallen to the earth, and 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 ÖPEN 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." [Acts of the Apostles, xxvi, 12-18.]

3. Paul, without delay, commenced the work thus committed to his hands; and devoted himself with such boldness, ardour and perseverance in the cause as has never been surpassed, perhaps never equalled. He planted churches in various places, particularly in Asia, spending several years in building up the Church in one city and then passing to another, leaving the work in the hands of chosen men on whom he could rely. To these churches and to these men he wrote various epistles, consisting chiefly of directions for the conduct of those to whom they were addressed; and, consequently, those to the persons to whom he had given the charge of churches, contain full directions for their conduct in every particular as to the order of the Church, and it is from these full directions that we are to learn the apostolical order of the Church, in order to ascertain whether any particular ecclesiastical arrangements agree with that order.

4. One of the Churches established and built up by the labour, care, and perseverance of Paul, was that of Ephesus. On his first visit to that city "he entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not: but bade them farewell, saying I must by all means keep this feast that cometh, in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will." [Acts xviii, 19-20.]

5. Some time afterwards, Paul went again to Ephesus, and found about twelve disciples; "and he went into the synagogue and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. And this continued

by the space of two years: so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks." [Acts xix, 7-10.]

Paul therefore was about three years in Ephesus preaching the word, as he tells us himself, [Acts xx, 31.] and great numbers believed. [Acts xix, 11–20.J

6. "After these things were ended Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there I must also see Rome. So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timothy and Erastus: but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.” [Acts xix, 21, 22.]

7. While he remained yet a short time in that country, there was a great uproar produced by Demetrius, in consequence of the decline of his business of making shrines for the Heathen Goddess Diana, from the numbers converted to God by the preaching of Paul. "And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia:" as he had determined.

8. "And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece, and there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria (on his way to Jerusalem) he purposed to return THROUGH MACEDONIA :" while his company (one of whom was Timothy,) going before (by water) tarried for him at Troas.— [Acts xx, 1-5.]

9. Having left Ephesus, and expecting never to return [Acts xx, 25,] Paul discovered the utmost anxiety for the prosperity of the Church in that city. This is shown in that most interesting narration contained in the twentieth chapter of the Acts.

10. It is proposed to show from the scripture, that in this state of anxiety for the welfare of that church, Paul left Timothy in charge of it, with directions for his conduct towards all in it; and that those directions, contained in the first epistle to Timothy, show that he exercised episcopal authority over the whole. Church; the presbyters being subject to his authority, as well as the deacons.

2nd. That Timothy continued in charge of the Church at Ephesus five years and a half at least; how much longer being uncertain: and,

3rd. These points being established by scriptural statements, it will be clearly shown, from the testimony of those who immediately succeeded the Apostles in the care of the Church, and who like many of them sealed the truth with their blood, that Timothy's successors exercised the same authority.

11. And first, that Paul left Timothy, his constant companion for several years before [Acts, xvi, 1-4; xvii, 14–16; xviii, 5; xix, 22; xx, 4, 5.] in charge of the church at Ephesus, with directions for his conduct towards all in it, which show that he exercised episcopal authority over presbyters, deacons and people.

12. Paul in his first epistle to Timothy, says, "I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some, that they teach no other doctrine." [I. Timothy, i, 3.]

He tells him, "This chargé I commit unto thee, Son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee [I. Tim. iv, 14; II. Tim. i, 6.] that thou by them mightest war a good warfare." [I. Tim. i, 18.] "I exhort, therefore, that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men.' 99 [I. Tim. ii, 1.]

He proceeds to give him directions respecting the order of the Church, [I. Tim. ii.] and to guide him in the choice of proper persons for the offices of Presbyter or Bishop and Deacon; [I. Tim. iii.] and tells him, "These things write I unto thee hoping to come unto thee shortly: but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”[I. Tim. iii, 14, 15.]

He directs him, if a presbyter behave well to honour him; if not, to rebuke him before all, that others also (that is the rest* of them) may fear; charges him before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, to observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality; and closes this solemn charge respecting the government of the elders, with warning him to take care whom he put into this office; Lay hands suddenly on no man. [I. Tim. v, 17–22.]

* The word in our translation is others, "that others also may fear." This is, however, much more indefinite than the original Greek. The words transtated others, are hoi loipoi, reliqui, the rest, "that the rest also may fear." The proper Greek word for others, is heteroi or alloi; and one of these would have been used by the Apostle if he had intended to speak indefinitely of all other persons. Of the correctness of this, most men may readily inform themselves.

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Finally, Paul charges Timothy in the following weighty 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, unrebukable, UNTIL THE APPEARING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.” [I. Tim. vi, 13, 14.]

13. In these passages from the first epistle to Timothy, written by Paul expressly for his direction in the regulation of the Church, are contained full evidence of ample episcopal authority. Timothy was to remain at Ephesus to regulate the Church, to restrain those who should preach false doctrine, to select proper persons for presbyters and deacons, to prove or try them, [I. Tim. iii, 10.] to ordain such as were found worthy, to honour them if they behaved well, to rebuke them that sinned, before, all, that the rest might fear, and to continue in this charge until the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The episcopal powers which are most offensive to those who derive their ordination through presbyters, are here plainly laid down; viz. the power exercised by Timothy of selecting; after sufficient proof, of ordaining; and of governing the clergy as well as the laity—and that for an unlimited time.

14. It is important to determine when this charge of the Church at Ephesus was given to Timothy, and there are a number of circumstances stated in the Acts, which, when compared, enable us to determine the time.

15. Paul says he besought Timothy to abide still at Ephesus when he (Paul) went into Macedonia. [I. Tim. i, 3.]

It is related in the Acts of the Apostles, that Paul made two visits to Macedonia after the Church was established at Ephesus; and the account of his journeys, is so particular and minute, from the time of his leaving Ephesus until the close of the narrative, that it is evident he did not make any other journey into Macedonia within the period embraced in that narrative. This will appear from the following statement.

16. After spending three years in Ephesus in establishing the Church, [Acts xix, 8, 10; xx, 31.] he determined to go to Macedonia. [Acts xix, 21.] After the uproar, an account of which is related in Acts xix, 23-41, he that country. [Acts xx. 1.] and spent three months there. was about to sail into Syria, he determined to return through Ma

executed his purpose of going into From Macedonia he went to Greece [Acts xx, 2, 3.] From Greece, as he