time, and the one under our present examination, being of supreme importance, it is proper that the council should now adjourn until to-morrow morning.

On motion therefore, the assembly adjourned till to-morrow 10 o'clock.

FIFTH DAY.

MET ACCORDING TO ADJOURNMENT.

Chairman.

We have now met Gentlemen, for the purpose of consummating the business before us, and making a final decision upon the question, whether Dioceasan Episcopacy be the true Apostolical regimen of Christ's Church? Those gentlemen who wish to continue the discussion will now proceed.

Presbyter Quartus. Gentlemen, I rise not for the purpose of multiplying arguments upon this subject, but barely to express to this assembly, my full conviction of the propriety and truth of the charge now before this council. I have admired the temperate, and at the same time independent manner, in which my Brother Presbyters have conducted their arguments; and I cannot forbear to express the satisfaction which I have received,

from the fair light in which the gentlemen have placed the subject. This was a matter with which I confess myself but little acquainted, until now, and on which I must acknowledge, I had been driven into some doubts, by the high claims and lofty denunciations of some Episcopalians. But the gentlemen have so simplified the subject, and brought it within such a compass as to enable every mind to comprehend it. I presume therefore, that this council are prepared to decide as to the propriety of the charge, and to pronounce with one consent that Episcopacy is not only an innovation of man, but that “it puts it in man's power to lord it over the heritage of God."

Doctor Bishop. Gentlemen, I must beg the honour of your indulgence, while I offer some remarks upon the high charge now urged, with such stubborn perseverance, against Episcopalians. In doing this, I shall occupy as little time, as the nature of the subject, and my accountability to Him, who reigns in the Church triumphant, will admit of. I shall not feel myself under any obligations to take a formal view of the arguments offered by the two last gentlemen, inasmuch as

all their remarks are founded on names,* and not on the peculiar character of the Priesthood; and as I shall have occasion, in the course of my observations to refer to the same venerable Fathers. In this, it shall be my object to let them speak for themselves, and you. gentlemen, shall judge whether their voice be strong or “weak,” and for whose cause they plead.

I now, gentlemen, pledge myself to prove by Scripture, and by Fathers who were cotemporaries with those to whom the Rev. Gentleman has referred, the Apostolic institution of Episcopacy;In other words, that the Apostolic ministry consisted of three grades, Bishops, Priests and Dea

The true state of the case in reference to names, is unques tionably this-During the life of the Apostles, deference to them forbid that their successors in office should be called Apostles, and hence they were called by the common title of Bishop, Elder, &c. After the death of the Apostles, their successors to their real office, as Timothy, Titus, &c. were called Apostles; and in process of time, this title was changed, and those who held the Apostolic commission, assumed the title of Bishops, and the two lower orders retained the titles of Presbyter and Deacon. Thus saith an ancient Father, Theodoret-"The same persons," says he, were anciently called Presbyters and Bishops, and they whom we now call Bishops, were then called Apostles; but in process of time, the name of Apostles was appropriated to them who were Apostles in the strict sense; and their successors dropped the name of Apostle, and took that of Bishop-In this sense Epaphroditus is called the Apostle of the Philippians---Titus was the Apostle of the Cretans, and Timothy of Asia." Reporter.

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cons-the first possessing the sole power of ordination.

As a strong presumptive argument that this was the case, Episcopalians bring into view the regimen of the Jewish Priesthood. The Jewish Church was the visible Church of God, was acknowledged as such by our blessed Saviour him self-Her Priesthood was appointed by Heav en. In it, through their whole history, we find three orders, High Priest, Priest, and Levite, each possessing different powers, the two latter subordinate to the former. This order of the priesthood, among the Jews, was protected by the arm of God, and when invaded, the invaders were punished.

This being the undisputed fact under one dispensation of the Church of God, Episcopalians think that until there is found an express warrant for a change, (and they think they have a right to demand of non-Episcopalians that warrant) the known regimen of the ministry in Christ's Church in this one age, is an argument by which to deterne her true order in this subsequent age, and subsequent dispensation.

The next presumptive argument they derive from the visible order of the priesthood, during

the ministry of our Saviour. After his baptism Christ acted as the visible, as well as spiritual High Priest of his Church on earth-All visible authority was derived from him-He was not only the head of Christians as their Redeemer and Saviour, but as their visible Bishop. Under himself, he constituted his twelve Apostles and seventy disci-ples, the Apostles holding a grade between himself and the seventy. Here we contend is a sample of imparity in the ministry, perfectly according with that which God established among the Jews, and proving indisputably that Christ did not change the order of the Jewish Priesthood, but sanction ed it, thereby instructing us that the same regimen should continue in subsequent ages. This fact Episcopalians offer as an insurmountable evidence to prove the correctness of the Episcopal form of Church government.

We now come to the commencement of the Apostolic age. Let us examine the commission of our Saviour to his Apostles. Being about to ascend, and by his ascension to take away from his visible kingdom, its visible head, Christ imparts to his Apostles, his supreme visible authority-As his Father had sent him, so he sent them, to disciple all nations. This commission of our Saviour