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Frequently-in the first ages of the Jewish dispensation, but more rarely when the Christian Ministry was established; and that these, thus authorized, and these only, occasionally exercised the Ministerial functions, in common with the regular Priesthood. But that even with the character of a Prophet, no one presumed to speak a word, which was not commanded "him," or to "run without being sent," under a denunciation of" sword and famine," and "captivity," and death! And signs and wonders accompanied, and verified, the extraordinary Commission.

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PROPOSITION VI.-That the Levitical PRIESTHOOD was in a state of efficiency, though debased, and degraded, when OUR LORD appeared on earth. That in this Establishment He recognized the platform, and economy of the CHURCH; held Communion with it; and submitted to its Rites and Ordinances. That He made His first public appearance in the TEMPLE; and "daily taught the people," and "preached the Gospel" therein; attending the public Festivals; and declaring both the Sanctity of the PLACE, and the authority of the PRIESTHOOD.

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That it was "His custom," also, to attend the SYNAGOGUE service wherever he went, and therein to "preach the Gospel "of the Kingdom of God;" and that coming, "not to destroy, "but to fulfil, all righteousness,” He not only Himself adopted, but realized, and perpetuated, many of the Jewish Rites and Ceremonies; and, as in preparation for the more perfect and permanent Establishment, which should succeed to the Jewish economy, gradually divulged the platform of the GOSPEL UNIVERSAL CHURCH, and of the CHRISTIAN HIERArchy.

THE DIVINE EPISCOPACY, AND THREEFOLD MINISTRY.

PROPOSITION VII-That the LORD " CHRIST, also," though Himself, the " GREAT HIGH PRIEST," and "Bishop of SOULS," "the Head of the Church," "a Son over His own

“ House,” did not "glorify Himself to be made a High Priest," nor enter upon His Office as a " Minister of the Sanctuary,” till visibly called, and appointed, by God; when he was “anointed" with the unction of the Holy Ghost " above his fel"lows." That after a preparation of "forty days" fasting, like Moses and Elijah, and His forerunner, John the Baptist, He, then, acting" in the power of the Spirit," and as essentially filling the FIRST Order in the Ministry, exercised its distinctive functions of ORDINATION and GOVERNMENT.

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That He first chose four Disciples, who accompanied Him when He went about all Galilee, teaching in their Synagogues, and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom." That as "the Harvest" became "plenteous," and these " Labourers" were but "few," He-" the Lord of the Harvest,”— after He had“ continued all night in prayer to God," chose eight others -like "Labourers," and then "ordained" the "TWELVE," thus called, "whom also he named Apostles," " that they should “be with Him, and that He might send them forth to preach ;" making them his companions and “friends," and instructing them as to "the Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven," and the Government of the CHURCH.

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That He, then, appointed other SEVENTY, less attached to His Person, whom he sent, " two and two," into every place which He Himself meant to visit.

That these Two Orders-the College of the APOSTLES, and the Seventy DISCIPLES, differed from each other, like the two inferior ones in the Levitical Hierarchy, in the manner of their calling and consecration, in dignity, and in duties; and were so considered, and in a different way treated, by OUR LORD, throughout the course of His Ministry; and as He Himself acted as the "HIGH PRIEST," He herein gave an anticipated exemplification of the Christian THREEFOLD MINISTRY.

That thus exercising the powers of the FIRST Order, He formed rules for the Government of His CHURCH, adopting in the place of Circumcision, a before used ceremony, Baptism, no longer to be administered with "water" only, but to be

accompanied with "the Spirit," as the New Birth, or mode of initiation into the CHURCH OF GOD under the Christian dispensation. And substituting the commemorative Sacrament of the LORD'S SUPPER for the typical Passover.

PROPOSITION VIII.-That as the close of Our Lord's Ministry on earth drew nigh, He delivered more particular instructions to "THE TWELVE;" and, having "finished the

work given Himself to do," transferred to THEM the EPISCOPAL powers. Now more solemnly ordaining them, as Members of the FIRST ORDER; substituting for the typical " anointing "Oil" the unction of the " HOLY GHOST;" "sending them as He Himself was sent of the Father;" and authorising the transmission of these powers, in a perpetual succession, by giving an assurance of His being with them, and their Successors-" UNTO THE END OF THE WORLD!" Desiring them, however, yet to "tarry in Jerusalem" for the "promise of the "Father "the Holy Ghost-the confirmation of their appointment; when they should be "endued with power from on High," and be then guided, by " the Spirit of truth, into all "truth."

PROPOSITION IX.-That the APOSTLES refrained from exercising the powers of the FIRST ORDER, until they received the promised seal of their Commission; and continued, during this time, to act in subordination to the Episcopal authority of CHRIST. So that when it became necessary to renew the original number of the APOSTOLATE, and to fill up the "Bishop“rick” made void by the “transgression,” and death, of Judas, and two persons were selected out of the Disciples-the inferior Order—for that purpose," the Eleven” did not themselves ordain his Successor, but prayed "the Lord” to “shew “whether of the two” Hɛ had “ chosen ;" which prayer they considered as answered by the result of the lot, and the person thus" chosen," and "ordained," by OUR LORD-“ was num"bered with the Eleven APOSTLES."

PROPOSITION X.-That as the time was come when the "place of the Tent" should be " enlarged," and the "stakes strengthened "—the "times of the Gentiles,” when all Nations should be brought into the INDIVIDUAL and UNIVERSAL CHURCH, another Apostle was "separated," "called," and “ordained," by our Lord for this mission. That with him a Coadjutor, Barnabas, was associated by the " HOLY GHOST ;" and by these-acting under the especial direction and control of the HOLY GHOST, and being "recommended to the grace of "God for the work," by the "Prophets and Teachers" of "the Church" as it then was at Antioch, was the Gospel proclaimed amongst the Gentiles.

THE APOSTOLIC EPISCOPACY, AND THREEFOLD MINISTRY.

PROPOSITION XI.-That immediately after the descent of "the Holy Ghost" upon "the TWELVE"-the visible seal of their Commission-and the particular Ordination and Appointment of St. Paul, these-THE APOSTLES-began to act in the government of the Church--and to exercise the proper functions of the FIRST ORDER.

That, each acting in the general EPISCOPACY, they separated for the accomplishment of their work; proceeding gradually, and according to circumstances, as OUR LORD had done; giving none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the "Church of God." That in conformity with ancient practice, and as our Lord had in their own case, also given example, they chose Disciples-by whom they were accompanied, and whom they, by such means, instructed; occasionally detaching them on particular missions, or settling them as resident Ministers in the places converted. But that the APOSTLES alone, as members of the FIRST Order, ordained to the Ministry, and each, as the BISHOP, exercised a peculiar authority over the

Churches he had been the more immediate means of establishing.

PROPOSITION XII.-That they proceeded to found Christian Churches," beginning at Jerusalem," from whence, it had been proclaimed the Law should" go forth," and where the Gospel should be first preached. That they ordained, for the service of such Churches, Ministers of divers ORDERS, differing -in analogy to the Levitical Hierarchy, and according to the practice of our Lord-in mode of consecration, in dignity, and in duties. In the ordination of whom they adopted the ancient custom of Imposition of hands, a ceremony ever afterwards used on such occasions.

That in placing these Ministers in the several local Churches, the Apostles proceeded, probably, according to exigency; to some places perhaps allotting a Bishop, with attendant Deacons, without a Presbyter; to others a congregated Presbytery, or a single Presbyter, with, or without, the third Order; and to others a single Deacon. But that before the settlement in any place of a BISHOP, properly so called, or Member of the FIRST ORDER, the Apostles retained to themselves the Episcopal authority; visiting the Churches, confirming the Converts, exercising the power of the Keys on offenders, and forming Rules for uniform government: that" all things”. "in all Churches,"might" be done decently, and in order.”

PROPOSITION XIII.-That as the TEMPLE Service continued during their Ministry, and the LEVITICAL Economy was not at an end, the APOSTLES attended the Public Worship, and submitted to the Jewish Rites, "walking orderly, and keeping "the Law," in obedience to the authority, and in conformity to the example, of OUR LORD. That they observed the "hours of prayer," and, like Him,were "daily in the Temple," preaching the Gospel-" the word of this life"—and teaching therein, and also "in the Synagogues of the Jews." That they did this in places where they founded Christian Churches; so that the

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