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to the Corinthians, that " the Apoftles knowing of the LORD JESUs, that contefts would arife concerning the Episcopal náme, (or order) and for this caufe having perfect fore-knowledge (of these things,) they did ordain those whom we have mentioned before; and moreover did establish the constitution, that other approved men fhould fucceed them who died in their office and ministry."

Thus then, upon the authority of ST. PAUL, who was called to be an Apoftle by JESUS CHRIST, together with that of ST. CLEMENT, who was a bishop within forty years after our LORD's refurrection, and who, as living with the Apostles, must have been made acquainted with the conftitution of the church over which he was appointed to prefide; fupported by the confideration of that uniform fyftem of

government which has prevailed in the church from the beginning, we are warranted in determining; that where we find the order of bifhops, priefts, and deacons regularly appointed, there we find the church of CHRIST according to its original conftitution; and without these (to make use of the words of ST. IGNATIUS, who it is to be obferved was the difciple of ST. JOHN) it is not called a church. "Let all," fays this holy man, reverence the deacons,

as the minifters of JESUS CHRIST; and in like manner the bishop, as JESUS CHRIST, the Son of the Father; the prefbyters, as the fenate of GOD, and college of Apostles; without thefe, it is not called a church.'

From whence the obvious conclufion is, that the Church is not merely a number of people, agreeing in the fame articles of faith, or in the fame acts of religious worship; but it is moreover a fociety, holding one vifible communion under the fame divinelyinstituted government: a fociety, not of man's but of Chrift's forming; a fociety or spiritual incorporation, of which He is the head, and all individual Christians, who have been regularly admitted into it, the members. For the church is not a creature of the fancy, deriving an imaginary existence from the whim and caprice of man, but a fettled and permanent establishment, the work of Divine Wisdom. It is, moreover, not hid in a corner, that men need be at a lofs to find it; but a vifible fociety, poffeffed of those characteristic marks, by which it may at all times be known. Like all other focieties compofed of fallible men, it has, indeed, been deformed by corruptions and abuses; but corruptions and abuses affect not

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the nature and conftitution of the church itself, but the parties only by whom they have been occafioned.

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To form a proper judgment, therefore, upon this fubject, recourfe must be had to thofe records which contain an account of the original plan, upon which the church was established by its Divine Founder. In them we find, that every figure under which it is defcribed, has application, not to a confufed multitude of men independent of each other, but to a regular fociety under an appointed government. It is "a body having many members, of which CHRIST is the head." It is " a kingdom of which CHRIST is the king." It is "a family," of which CHRIST is the master. It is a building fitly framed together, built upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apoftles, JESUS CHRIST himself being the chief corner-ftone." It is the fold of sheep, of which JESUS CHRIST is the fhepherd. All which several descriptions lead to the fame general idea of affociation, order, and agreement, fubfifting among the several members of the church, confidered as parts of the fame body; in confequence of which, they regularly discharge their refpective offices, continuing in constant dependence upon the Head, from whence their power of life and action is derived.

Such then is the nature and conftitution of the church, as it was originally established by its Supreme Head; from whom the Apostles, and their fucceffors the bishops, have derived their commiffion; a branch of that commiffion which JESUS CHRIST received from his FATHER; by virtue of which they challenge obedience from every member of the Christian church, as to the stewards or chief officers in that fpiritual fociety, over which they are authorised to prefide. And fuch must be the conclufion upon this subject, unless we suppose, either that the Apostles understood not the nature of the commiffion with which they were entrusted, or that for the fake of aggrandizing their own characters, they wilfully mifrepresented it.

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