Jewish Converts-" zealous of the Law,"-were permitted to continue their obedience thereto; while the Gentiles were released from some of the more ceremonial parts; and that the Apostles themselves continued this attendance on the TEMPLE service, and obedience to the Levitical Institutions, for thirty years subsequent to OUR LORD's Ascension; being long after they had established" Churches throughout all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria;" and the more distant regions of "Asia.

That therefore they did not yet erect Edifices for the public celebration of the ceremony and worship peculiar to them— the Lord's Supper, or "the breaking of bread "—but used an

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UPPER ROOM," or retired chamber in private houses; which was, however, considered so far sacred, as not to be profaned by common meals. That they abstained from the application of the term "TEMPLE," in respect to such, but used that of 'EKKAHIA (Ecclesia) or Church," a word applicable equally to the Body of Worshippers, and the Place of their assembling. And that in consequence of this symbolizing with the Service of the Church under the Jewish dispensation, and the harmony in the Christian Faith, and Service, many were added to them," " daily;" "the number of disciples

-

multiplied in Jerusalem greatly;"

many thousands of Jews," and some of the " Chief Rulers of the Synagogues" "believed;" "and a great company of the PRIESTS were obedient to the faith."

THE APOSTOLIC-CHRISTIAN EPISCOPACY, AND THREEFOLD MINISTRY.

PROPOSITION XIV.-That when contemplating the approaching close of their own Ministry, the APOSTLES did, according to the example of OUR LORD under the like circumstance, delegate the powers of the EPISCOPACY to others, as their Successors therein; each a single person having rule

S

over a City, or Territory, containing an indefinite number of Congregations, or subordinate "Churches."

That they set "the pattern" at JERUSALEM, where, it was proclaimed, there should be, at some time," a Tabernacle not "to be taken down;" over which Church, with its "myriads" of Converts, St. JAMES, one of the APOSTOLIC " pillars," was constituted the BISHOP; and in which—the original Diocesan Church-apparently was ordained also, the first " ELDERS"or Presbyters-and DEACONS.

That they then proceeded to establish other EPISCOPAL Seats, or Dioceses, after this Model, with the THREE Orders of Ministry; making the most eminent of the Disciples Bishops, (or Metropolitans,) as "Timothy" of Ephesus, "Titus" of Crete, Epaphroditus" of Philippi; and, according to the earliest writers, many others of those whose names are noticed in the sacred Canon-as" Barnabas" of Cyprus," Mark” of Alexandria," Clemens" of Rome, "Gaius" and "Aristar"chus," successively, of Thessalonica, "Crescens" of Galatia, Antipas" of Pergamos, and "Dionysius," Publius," and Quartus," successively, of Athens; together with the "ANGELS," or Bishops, of the other "Churches in Asia;" to whom St. John addresses the Apocalypse.

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That they invested them with the ordinary EPISCOPAL powers, those proper to the Ministry of the FIRST ORDER, and ever after to be exercised with it, as they, the APOSTLES and first Bishops, had exercised the same powers, in conjunction with others, extraordinary, and peculiar to themselves ;giving them instructions as to the transmission of such powers to their Successors in the EPISCOPATE; and as to the choice, the qualifications, and the ordination, of the respective members of the THREEFOLD MINISTRY.

THE PERMANENT CHRISTIAN EPISCOPACY, AND THREEFOLD MINISTRY.

PROPOSITION XV. That the Bishops-properly so

called-thus ordained, and appointed to their respective Sees, by the APOSTLES, did, in like manner, ordain their Successors, and other members of the THREE Orders: so that by the time the LEVITICAL threefold Priesthood ceased, and the TEMPLE was destroyed, the CHRISTIAN threefold Hierarchy was fully established.

That the EPISCOPAL powers, and authority continued to be thus transmitted in regular succession, in the Churches; and that the members of the FIRST Order in the Hierarchythe " BISHOPS,❞—at length, exclusively so called-did alone possess the powers of ORDINATION and GOVERNMENT in their several Churches or Dioceses-part of the Universal Christian Church-in perfect Analogy to the authority exercised by the Jewish" HIGH PRIEST" over the "Priests," and "Levites;" -by CHRIST Over" the Twelve," and "the Seventy; "—and by the APOSTLES Over the "Elders," and "Deacons ;" and as they the BISHOPS - had received such authority from the APOSTLES, who had received it from CHRIST, who had received it from GOD!

PROPOSITION XVI.-That as OUR LORD had recognized the Economy of the Levitical Hierarchy, and did, in his own Ministry, act upon the established Episcopal principles in the ordination of" the Twelve," and "the Seventy," the choice of Matthias, and the calling of St. Paul, so did He condescend, before the closing of the Sacred Canon, to make an extraordinary appearance to His favoured disciple, the surviving Apostle, as the "ALPHA and OMEGA"-"THE ALMIGHTY!"--walking in the midst of seven golden candlesticks," and having "in His right hand seven Stars." Which CANDLESTICKS He explained, as representing the seven CHURCHES in Asia; and the "STARS," as the "ANGELS," or BISHOPS, of such Churches. And to these "ANGELS," as Individual Bishops, at the head of their respective Dioceses, were addressed the Warnings, the Encouragements, and the Promises, which the SPIRIT" spake, through them," to the

"Churches." So that by such a Vision and Representation, OUR LORD did both realize His promise of being ever with HIS CHURCH, and, once for all, stamp an incontrovertible, and indelible, mark of approbation on EPISCOPAL GOVERN

MENT.

the

PROPOSITION XVII.-That the principal functions of the Sacred Office-the duties of the FIRST ORDER-were, duriug the Levitical Priesthood, exercised by a single person, HIGH PRIEST; both as he was typical of the "Great High Priest," ""the Apostle," and " Bishop of Souls," and as the Service was confined to one place, the TABERNACLE, and TEMPLE, in succession, and to one People," the great Congregation." That these functions were both in appearance and reality exercised by OUR LORD; who, previous to his death, delegated them to "THE ELEVEN," to the substituted Apostle, and, through the HOLY SPIRIT, to " the APOSTLE of the Gentiles; and that subsequent to these, the EPISCOPAL ORDER was unlimited as to numbers. That the members of the SECOND and THIRD Orders were always more numerous, being proportioned and varied, according to the Services to be performed; and, that these also encreased with the extension of the Church.

That places of Christian Public Worship, or Churches, as at length technically called, were gradually substituted for the Temple, and the Synagogue; both the Type and Antitype being found at Jerusalem. And when "the middle wall of "partition was "broken down," and the Levitical Economy at an end, the Temple and Priesthood, the Altar and Sacrifices, typical and temporary-were realized by the Christian Temple and Priesthood, the Altar, and Sacrifices; an economy to continue, thenceforward, unchanged, "to the end of the "world!"

That the Christian Church then became the "SANCTUARY," the "HOUSE of PRAYER for all the NATIONS," the " Tabernacle "not to be taken down;" while the THREEFOLD MINISTRY continued according to its original institution, the Lord taking, as

he had declared, of the Gentiles, "for Priests and Levites," and the essential duties of the Aaronical Priesthood-the High Priest, Priests, and Levites-being thenceforward administered by CHRISTIAN Bishops, Priests, and Deacons.

PROPOSITION XVIII. That "THE CHURCH, limited under the Jewish Dispensation, but Catholic, or Universal, under the Gospel-is to be regarded as a Divine Institution, and a regularly ordered Society; ever to be maintained in its essential characteristics, and privileges, according to the Will of God, as this is revealed.

That a MINISTRY lawfully ordained to officiate in its Sacred Offices, is of the essence of its Constitution, having ever been found in it since the promulgation of that Will; and that the continuance of such Ministry seems indispensable to the well being, if not to the formal and visible existence of the Church. For" how shall they believe in him of whom they have "not HEARD? and how shall they hear without a PREACHER?" and "how" with what effect and benefit-"shall THEY preach, except they be SENT?"

That all contempt of the Divine Revelation, therefore, and every unlawful INTRUSION into the Sacred Office,-the taking "this Honour unto himself" by any one" but he that is called of God, as was Aaron," and all CONFUSION of the Sacred Orders, and all POLLUTION of Places or Things consecrated, seem equally forbidden, and guarded against, under the Gospel, or perfect, Dispensation, as under the Levitical :-a Christian Apostle expressly noticing "the gainsaying of

Corah," and denouncing punishment against the like Sinners of his day!

PROPOSITION XIX.-That the Sacred Records being generally concise, and in some cases silent, as to Historical transactions, and peculiar Institutions, and a knowledge of