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"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 66 you; but be ye united to your Bishop, and those "who preside over you, to be your pattern and di"rection 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 66 thing without your Bishops and Presbyters: Nei"ther endeavor to let any thing appear rational to "yourselves apart; but being come together into "the same place, have one common prayer, one 66 supplication, one mind; one hope, in charity, "and in joy undefiled. There is one Lord Jesus "Christ, than whom nothing is better. Where"fore 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 66 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 "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." Sect. 7. "Wherefore guard your"selves against such persons. And that you will “do, if you are not puffed up; but continue inse"parable from Jesus Christ our God, and from 66 your Bishop, and from the command of the A66 postles. 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 Dea is not pure in his conscience."

cons,

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

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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 ap

pear, 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 what"soever he shall approve of, that is also pleasing 66 to God; that so whatever is done, may be sure " and well done." Sect. 12. "I salute 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 call"ed 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 endeavor to pre66 serve 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 with"out thy knowledge and consent: neither do thou 66 any thing but according to the will of God; as " also thou dost with all constancy. Let your as"semblies 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 66 women, to come together with the consent of the "Bishop; that so their marriage may be accord"ing to godliness, and not in lust."

These are the passages in the Epistles of Ignatius, which Episcopal 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?-Let me again remind you, that

a

they plead, not for such Bishops as we acknowledge, that is, Pastors of single congregations, each furnished with Elders and Deacons, to assist in the discharge of parochial duties. On the contrary, they plead for diocesan Bishops, as a distinct and superior order of clergy, who alone are invested with the right to govern the church, to ordain, and to confirm. But is there a single hint in these extracts which looks as if the Bishops mentioned in them were of a distinct and superior order? Is there a single word said about the powers of ordaining and confirming being appropriated to these Bishops ? Not a syllable that has the most distant resemblance to any thing of this kind is to be found in all the Epistles before us*. On the contrary, it is evident

1. That the Bishop so frequently mentioned by this venerable Father, is only a parochial Bishop, or in other words, the pastor of a single congregation. The church of which this Bishop has the care is represented, throughout the Epistles, as coming together to one place; as worshipping in one assembly; as having one altar, or communion table ; as eating of one loaf ; having one prayer ; and, in short, uniting in all the acts of solemn wor

*

Accordingly Dr. (afterwards Bishop) Stilling fleet de. clares—“ Of all the thirty-five testimonies produced out “ of Ignatius his Epistles, for Episcopacy, I can meet with “ but one which is brought to prove the least semblance of an “ institution of Christ for Episcopacy, and, if I be not much

deceived, the sense of that place is clearly mistaken.” Irça aicum.

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ship. But all this can only apply to a single congregation. Again, the Bishop here spoken of, is represented as present with his flock whenever they come together ; as conducting their prayers, and presiding in all their public service; as the only person who was authorized, in ordinary cases, to administer Baptism and the Lord's Supper; as the person by whom all marriages were celebrated; and whose duty it was to be personally acquainted with all his flock; to take notice, with his own eye, of those who were absent from public worship; to attend to the widows and the poor of his congregation ; to seek out all by name, and not to overlook even the men and maid-servants living in his parish. I appeal to your candor, my brethren, whether these representations and directions can be reasonably applied to any other officer than the Pastor of a single church?

2. It is equally evident, that the Presbyters and Presbytery so frequently mentioned in the foregoing extracts, together with the Deacons, refer to officers which in the days of Ignatius, belonged, like the Bishop, to each particular church. Most of the Epistles of this Father are directed to particular churches; and in every case, we find each church furnished with a Bishop, a Presbytery, and Dea

But what kind of officers were these Pres. byters? The friends of prelacy, without hesitation, answer, they were the inferior clergy, who ministered to the several congregations belonging to each of the dioceses mentioned in these Epistles ; an