order (see post, Sec. 7) then, as the Epistle addressed to them was sent by Epaphroditus their Bishop, properly so called, this was a diocese fully furnished with the three orders. St. Ambrose indeed, in translating this passage, somewhat inverts the words, and makes the address," from Paul and Timothy, with the Bishops and Deacons, to all the Saints at Philippi." In the case of the original Church itself, at Jerusalem, it does not certainly appear whether the Presbyters, or the seven Deacons, were first appointed.

As time elapsed and the particular Churches increased, more Elders were ordained, probably one to a city if it was small, or, in the larger cities, a congregation of Presbyters was appointed,-over whom was set a Bishop-a member of the superior order-whose council they formed, as was the case with St. James and his Presbyters, at Jerusalem,-Acts, xxi. 18. To these were added a proportionate number of Deacons, or members of the third order, as their services became necessary. Sometimes it occurred that the Bishop was called out of his diocese by an Apostle, to assist in particular emergencies; as is seen with respect to Epaphroditus, Bishop of Philippi, who was at Rome with St. Paul when he addressed his Epistle to that province; and then the temporary government was exercised by the Presbyters.

The mode and extent of the ordinations at this period, are very slightly touched on, but that they were now frequently occurring, and as occasions required, may be gathered from many parts of the sacred history. The " servants of the Church," helpers" of the Apostles-and "fellow workers" -mentioned by name in Rom. xvi.-Col. iv. &c.—and the "12 disciples" noticed Acts, xix-who "spake with tongues "and prophesied," after they had received the Holy Ghost, and the imposition of St. Paul's hands,-together with "the "brethren"-" messengers of the Churches,"-2 Cor. viii. 23 -contradistinguished from "the Saints," and " the Prophets," 1 Cor. xiv. 29-and those referred to as "labouring among,

1 Thess. v. 12-and "ruling over,"-Heb. xiii. 17,—were probably all of them members of the ecclesiastical order.

If the Apostles have not given in detail the plan of a regular ecclesiastical government, it may be explained on two grounds; -first, in regard to the nature of their immediate occupations, and their great labours in preaching, and propagating the Gospel doctrines, to distant nations; which, together with their working for their maintenance,-St. Paul's own hands "ministering unto his necessities,"-Acts, xx. 34,-cost them "labours" most "abundant;" and too much occupied their time to admit of either of them taking upon himself to compose a formal history. For it may be here remarked that even the History of St. Luke-" the Acts of the Apostles"considering that it contains the transactions of the Church during nearly 30 years of its most important state, is very concise; and it may be imagined how much is left unsaid by all the sacred writers, from the remarkable passage in St. John's Gospel as to the acts of our Saviour,-Jo. xxi. 25.though those are narrated by four several Evangelists, of which he was the last. And secondly, from the Apostles being probably satisfied that their own practice, which naturally became interwoven with the constitution of the Church, would preclude misconception on the subject.

The succession of the members of the first order, in whom the Apostolic or episcopal government was vested, and the subordination of the second order-which subordination was almost even without question, for 1600 years after the death of the Apostles, afford no slight proof that a more perfect draught of the Christian Church drawn up in writing was not a matter of absolute necessity.

Their Epistles, it is evident, were written without study, and as occasions called for them; and as they were addressed generally to those who were either blinded with perverted truths, as the Jews, or deeply engulphed in idolatry, as the Heathen, the establishment of sound doctrine was naturally

the leading object. Their silence as to the substitution of the Christian Sabbath-as to infant Baptism-the building of Churches the form of public worship-and even, partially, of their ordaining Elders, for they speak of this but once,—with other things that might be enumerated,-things which were to be taught by example rather than by precept-sufficiently proves this. Their actions-being under the direction of the Holy Spirit-these, as far as we can ascertain them, must establish the model for perpetual observance.

For the better accomplishment of the objects of their mission the Apostles divided their work; for James and Peter, and John, more particularly took upon themselves the care of the Jewish proselytes, or "the circumcision," and Paul and Barnabas of the Heathen.-Rom, xv. 20-28.-Gal. ii. 7-9. i, 18, &c.-1 Pet. i. 1.-St. Luke seems to refer to this when he speaks of the "Bishoprick" of Judas; and St. Paul makes a difference in his Epistles to the Churches he had himself planted, and those to others, asserting over the former a greater authority. Thus, to the Corinthians he says, "As my beloved "sons I warn you; for though you have ten thousand instruc"tors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers; for in Christ "Jesus I have begotten you through the Gospel."-1 Cor. iv. 14, 15.—And again, " If I be not an Apostle unto others, yet "doubtless I am to you, for the seal of my Apostleship are ye "in the Lord,"-ix. 2,-and see iii. 2,—xvi. 8, 9,-1 Thess. ii. 11,-He concludes, also, to the Thessalonians," If any man obey not our word by this Epistle, note that man, and have no company with him."-2 Thess. iii. 14.

It is recorded that St. Peter preached to the Jews dispersed in Pontus, Galatia, Bithynia, Cappadocia, &c.-St. Andrew to the Scythians;-St. Bartholomew to the Indians;-St. Thomas to the Parthians ;-St. Matthew to the Persians ;St. Simon to the Africans;-St. Philip in Phrygia ;-and St. John in Lesser Asia ;-St. Paul also in many of these places, and, as it is supposed, in Spain, Gaul, and Britain. Thus was the prophecy fulfilled, that God would "enlarge

Japheth and that he should dwell in the tents of Shem."― Gen. ix. 27.

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When the converts to Christianity were greatly increased, and the Apostles had established Churches throughout all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria; in Macedonia, in Phrygia, and Galatia; throughout all Asia, and into Ethiopia,-Acts, ix. 31,-and "in the uttermost part of the earth,"-i. 8,—and had "delivered them" the instructions" and decrees that were "ordained of the Apostles and Elders," the two superior orders which were at Jerusalem;-Acts, xvi. 4:-and as the personal labours of the Apostles themselves were drawing towards a close, when, as St. Paul declared, he was "ready to be "offered," and "the time of his departure was at hand," 2 Tim. iv. 6,-they began to provide a supply of the first order by whom the Churches now established might be governed, and through whom the powers for creating future supplies might be transmitted. Herein they conformed, as our Lord had done, to an original pattern; for as Moses did not choose the seventy elders to fill the offices he held, till the burden became too heavy for him, so Christ and the Apostles, respectively, increased the number of labourers, and enlarged their powers, as the harvest became more abundant; not filling up the first order till near the close of their own ministry.

They also, therefore, ordained Bishops in places of eminence, to whom they committed the government of the Churches in their respective dioceses, lest if there were no head, divisions should be multiplied, as we find such sometimes arose,1 Cor. iii. 3,-xi. 18,-and there might be as many Churches "the very as teachers. For as St. Jerome justly remarks,

dignity of the Church depends on the chief, to whom if there "be not given a power, without participation, and superior to "others, there would be as many schisms in the Church as "Priests." Wherefore in every Church was one Bishop, or member of the first order, with the power of ordination, and government,-now first delegated from the Apostles,-who received it from Christ, as he had received it from God,-to

be transmitted through others in succession, with the promise of our Lord accompanying it, till his second appearance in glory. The number of members of the second and third orders varied, of course, according to circumstances.

In order to settle this establishment with more authority the Apostles fixed some of their own number in the most important stations, as Diocesan Bishops; and as the preaching of the Gospel began at Jerusalem, St. James was first made Bishop of that place, over the several congregations there-the " many "thousands," or more strictly, "tens of thousands," that formed the Churches of that city,-Acts xxi. 20.-To him, thus stationed, and surrounded by his Presbyters, St. Paul communicated the success of his ministry,-xxi. 19,-Epiphanius asserts, from ancient authors whom he cites, that St. James wore a golden plate on his forehead after the manner of the Jewish High Priest,-Ex. xxviii. 36, 37,-whose office he was filling; and other writers say, that St. John, and several of the primitive Bishops, did the same. Simeon, the son of Cleophas, succeeded St. James in the See of Jerusalem, in the life time, and with the consent of the Apostles. St. Peter, according to some, undertook the Episcopacy of Rome; though others imagine, from his long residence at Antioch, that he was Bishop of that place: Eusebius expressly says that he founded the first Church there. According to Ireneus, the Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul concurred in fixing the See of Rome, and made Linus, a disciple of St. Peter, the first Bishop: to whom St. Clement succeeded, during the Apostolic age. St. Barnabas is supposed to have been Bishop of Cyprus, Acts xv. 39.

Others, well approved by the Apostles, and probably selected, in general, from "the Seventy," were placed in other Sees. St. Mark the Evangelist was made Bishop of Alexandria; Timothy, Bishop of Ephesus; and Titus of Crete; both by St. Paul. Polycarp, the disciple of St. John, was made by him Bishop of Smyrna ;-Papias, another of his disciples, Bishop of Hierapolis;-and Evodius, and Ignatius, successively, Bishops of Antioch, before the death of St. Peter. Epaphro