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Some Episcopal writers, in order to avoid the difficulties above stated, have taken the liberty of supposing, that by the word Presbytery (ESEC CUTegsov) in this passage is to be understood, not a council of Presbyters, but the College of the Apostles. But this supposition is adopted without the least proof or probability. No instance has been, or can be produced, either from the New Testament, or from any early Christian writer, of the Apostles, as a collective body, being called a Presbytery. On the contrary, this word is always used, in scripture, in the writings of the primitive fathers, and particularly in the writings of Ignatius, (who is of - the highest authority with our opponents in this dispute,) to signify a council of Presbyters, and never in any other sense. But, allowing the word Presbytery to have the meaning contended for, and that Timothy was ordained by the bench of A. postles; how came the modest and humble Paul to speak of the whole gist as conveyed by his hands, and not so much as to mention any other name ? Were all the rest of the Apostles mere concurring spectators, and not real ordainers, as before pleaded ? Then it must follow, not only that Paul claimed a superiority over his brethren, which was never heard of before; but also that one Bishop is sufficient for the regular ordination of another Bishop, which is opposed to every principle of Episcopal government, as well as to the established canons, so far as I know, of every Church on

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Finally, it has been urged by some, against this instance of Presbyterian ordination, that the word here translated Presbytery, signifies the office conferred, and not the body of ministers who conferred it. Though this construction of the passage has been adopted by some respectable names*, it is so absurd and unnatural, and so totally inconsistent with every rational principle of interpretation, that it scarcely deserves a serious refutation. Let us see how the text will read with this mean. ing attached to the word in question. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of thine office. If this be not nonsense, it is difficult to say what deserves that name. But suppose we make such a monstrous inversion of the whole passage as no rule of grammar will justify, and read it thus-Neglect not the gift of the Presbyterate which is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of hands. It will then follow, that

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the office conferred upon Timothy was the Presbyterate, or the office of Presbyter ; but this, while it entirely coincides with the Presbyterian doctrine, will prove fatal to the Episcopal scheme, which constantly takes for granted that Timothy was not a mere Presbyter, but a diocesan Bishop.

The last instance that I shall mention of ordination performed by Presbyters, is that of Paul and Barnabas, who, after having been regularly set apart to the work of the ministry themselves, proceeded through the cities of Lystra, Iconium, &c. And when they had ordained them Elders in every Church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed. Our adversaries will perhaps say, that Paul alone performed these ordinations, in his apostolic or episcopal character; and that Barnabas only laid on hands to express his approbation of what Paul did. But the inspired writer, as usual, speaks a different language. He declares that they, both of them, ordained. Perhaps it will be said, that Barnabas was himself an Apostle, as he is so styled, Acts xiv. 14. and that he joined with Paul in ordaining Presbyters, in virtue of this superior character. We all know that he was not one of the Apostles, strictly so called, and, of course, that none of that pre-eminence which belonged to their character can be claimed for him. The word Apostle signifies simply a Messenger, a person sent. It was in use among the Greeks, and also

the Jews, before the time of Christ. The Jewish Apostles were assistants to the High Priest in discussing questions of the law; and were sometimes employed in inferior and secular duties. Barroniz Annales, An. 32. Accordingly, besides the twelve Apostles appointed by Christ himself, there were, in the primitive Churches, Apostles, or Messengers, chosen either by the Twelve, or by the Churches themselves, to go to distant places, on special services. In this vague and general sense, the word Apostle is repeatedly used in Scripture. In this sense Barnabas and Epaphroditus are called Apostles. In this sense John the Baptist is called an Apostle by Tertullian.

And in the same sense this name is applied by early Christian writers to the seventy disciples, and to those who propagated the Gospel long after the apostolic age. From this name, then, as applied to Barnabas, no preeminence of character can be inferred*. Besides, the supposition that he bore an ecclesiastical rank above that of Presbyter, is effectually refuted by the fact that he was himself ordained by the Presbyters of Antioch. As a Presbyter, therefore, he ordained others; and the only rational construction that can be given to the passage, renders it a plain precedent for Presbyterian ordination.

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IV. A fourth source of direct proof in favor of the Presbyterian plan of Church Government, is found in the model of the Jewish Synagogue, and in the abundant evidence which the Scriptures afford, that the Christian Church was formed after the same model.

At Jerusalem alone, where the Temple stood, were sacrifices offered, and the Mosaic rites observed. But in almost every town and village in Judea, Synagogues were erected, like parish Churches of modern times, for prayer and praise, for reading and expounding the Scriptures. The Temple worship, as will be afterwards shown, was, throughout, typical and ceremonial, and of course was done away by the coming of Christ. But the Synagogue worship was altogether of a different nature. It was that part of the organized religious establishment of the Old Testament Church, which, like the decalogue, was purely moral and spiritual, or at least chiefly so; and, therefore, in its leading characters, proper to be adopted under any dispensation. Accordingly we find that our Lord himself frequented the Synagogues, and taught in them; and that the Apostles, and other Christian Ministers in their time, did the same. It is well known, also, that in the city of Jerusalem, where the Gospel first began to be preached, after the resurrection of Christ, and where the New Testament Church was first organized, there were, if we may believe the best writers, nearly five hun.

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