generally distinguished by the title of The Bohemian Brethren, and which flourished before the time of Luther, are considered as the descendants of the Hussites, and as having inherited their opinions as well as their evangelical spirit. These churches distinctly held and taught, as their Book of Discipline proves, that there is but one order of mi- . nisters of Divine right, and, of course, that all difference' of grades in the ministry, is a matter of human prudence. They had, indeed, among them persons who were styled Bishops ; but they expressly disavowed the Divine institution of this order; and what is more, they derived their ministerial succession from the Waldenses, who had no other, strictly speaking, than Presbyterian Bishops. Even Comenius, their celebrated historian, who says most about their Bishops, distinctly acknowledges that Bishop and Presbyter are the same by Divine right. It is also an undoubted and remarkable fact, that the Bohemian Brethren retained the office of Ruling Elder in their churches ; an office which, toward the latter part of the fourth century, had been, in the greater part of the Christian world, disconti. nued. The following representation by the learned Bucer, will be deemed, by those who are acquainted with his character, conclusive as to this fact. « The Bohemian Brethren, who almost alone

preserved in the world the purity of the doctrine, " and the vigor of the discipline of Christ, observed - an excellent rule, for which we are compelled to “ give them credit, and especially to praise that

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"God who thus wrought by them; notwithstand66 ing those Brethren are preposterously despised "by some learned men. The rule which they ob "served was this: Besides ministers of the word "and sacraments, they had, in each church, a "bench or college of men excelling in gravity and "prudence, who performed the duties of admo"nishing and correcting offenders, composing dif"ferences, and judicially deciding in cases of dis66 pute. Of this kind of Elders, Hilary wrote, "when he said, Unde et Synagoga," &c. Script. Advers. Latom. p. 77.

The celebrated Mr. Tindal, a canon of Oxford, who gave the first translation of the Bible into English, and who suffered martyrdom in the reign of Henry VIII. for his zeal and his distinguished labors in the cause of truth, has the following explicit declaration, in his Practice of Popish Prelates. "The Apostles following and obeying the rule, "doctrine, and commandment of our Saviour, or"dained in his kingdom and congregation, two "officers, one called after the Greek word, Bishop, " in English, an Overseer; which same was called "Priest, after the Greek. Another officer they "chose, and called him Deacon, after the Greek; "a minister, in English, to minister alms to the "poor. All that were called Elders (or Priests, if "they so will) were called Bishops also, though they have now divided the names."

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The famous John Lambert, another martyr in the same reign, who is represented even by Epis

copal historians, as a man of great learning, as well as meekness and piety, expressed himself on the subject under consideration in the following manner: "As touching Priesthood in the primi"tive church, when virtue bare the most room, "there were no more officers in the church than "Bishops and Deacons, as witnesseth, besides Scrip"ture, full apertly Jerome, in his commentary upon St. Paul's Epistles, where he saith, that "those we call priests, were all one, and no other "but Bishops, and the Bishops none but priests."'

The Fathers of the Reformation in England were Presbyterians in principle; that is, a majority of the most pious and learned among them considered Bishop and Presbyter as the same, by divine right. But as the influence of the Crown was exerted in favor of prelacy; as many of the Bishops were opposed to the Reformation altogether; and as the right of the civil Magistrate to direct the outward organization of the church at pleasure, was acknowledged by all the Reformers, they yielded to the establishment of diocesan Episcopacy, as the most suitable form of government in the circumstances then existing. But it does not appear that any one of them thought of placing Episcopacy on the footing of Divine right, and far less of representing it as of such indispensable and unalterable necessity, as many of their less learned sons have thought proper to maintain since that time. I know that this fact, concerning those venerable Reformers, has been denied. But I know,

at the same time, that it rests on proof the most complete and satisfactory, and which will ever resist all the ingenious arts which have been used to set it aside.

In the year 1537, in the reign of Henry VIII. there was a book published for the purpose of promoting the Reformation, entitled, The Institution of a Christian Man. It was called the Bishops' Book, because it was composed by Archbishop Cranmer, and several other prelates. It was recommended and subscribed by the two Archbishops, by nineteen Bishops, and by the lower house of Convocation ; published under the authority of the king, and its contents ordered to be preached to the whole kingdom. In this Book it is expressJy said, that, “ although the Fathers of the suc

ceeding church, after the Apostles instituted cer“tain inferior degrees of ministry; yet the truth " is, that in the New Testament there is no men"tion made of any other degree or distinction in “ orders, but only of Deacons or Ministers; and of Presbyters or Bishops.".

About six years after the publication of this Book, another appeared, which was designed to promote the same laudable purpose. This was en. titled, “ The Necessary Erudition of a Christian Man." It was drawn up by a committee of Bishops and other divines, was afterwards read and approv. ed by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and the lower house of Parliament; was prefaced by the king, and published by his command. This Book

certainly proves that those who drew it up, had obtained much more just and clear views of several important doctrines, than they possessed at the date of the former publication. But with regard to mi. nisterial parity, their sentiments remained unchang. efl, They still asserted the same doctrine. They say, “ St. Paul, consecrated and ordained Bishops " by the imposition of hands; but that there is no

certain rule prescribed in Scripture for the nomi. "pation, election, or presentation of them; but 4 that this is left to the positive laws of every com"munity. The office of the said ministers is, to "preach the word, to minister the sacraments, to " bind apd loose, to excommunicate those that will “not be reformed, and to pray for the universal “ church." Having afterwards mentioned the order of Deacons, they go on to say, “ Of these two “ orders only, that is to say, Priests and Deacons, “Scripture maketh express mention; and how they

were conferred of the Apostles by prayer and * imposition of hands." | About five years after the last named publicau tion, viz. about the year 1548, Edward VI. called a " Select Assemby of Divines, for the resolution of several questions relative to the settlement of religion.” Of this assembly Archbishop Cranmer was a leading member; and to the tenth question, which respected the office of Bishops and Presby ters, that venerable Prelate replied, “ Bishops and « Priests were at one time, and were not two

things, but one office, in the beginning of Christ's; * religion," Two other Bishops, together with