in the fear of God, and according to the tenor of

his word. My answer then is, that they would be no more a regular Church, nor he any more God's minister, than a band of soldiers who should without authority, embody and organize themselves, and appoint a general to command them, would be an army of the United States.

For

if Christ the Redeemer of the world, the Son of God, took not upon himself the priesthood until commissioned by the Almighty Father-if his apostles acted not until they were empowered, if their successors stirred not their hand in the Holy work, until clothed with apostolic authority, (and that this was the case, the scriptures expressly declare) how can we, how dare we, call him a minister of Christ who derives his authority from his equals, who have no authority to give; and how call that community of people a Church, who have never submitted to that authority, viz. the authority of Christ, which alone can call them out of the world?

Some among us, my friends, (I wish to say it with all deference, but I must clear my conscience from the crime of temporizing)-some a-" mong us my friends, have erred in this respect. Some think they can make their own religion,

minister in holy things be produced, I give up the argument. I believe I have already proved beyond a dispute that Christ's Church is a visible body, capable of being known by all men, and that this Church was planted and supported by Jesus Christ, that it is not the work of man but of God. This the scriptures declare, and this the early writers, those Fathers in the faith, who were as distinguished for their learning, and their piety, as for their sufferings for Christ, with one voice declare, and shall we in contradiction to these high authorities, these highest of authorities, the undisputed history of facts recorded in scripture, set up the feelings of men, or their trust to an inward call? All agree in the defectability and depravity of man in his best estate. How wild then to set up the impressions and professions of the depraved creature, in opposition to the testimony of facts which transpired under the immediate influence of God? This is dethroning the Almighty, and placing the creature above the Creator. It is, in one word demolishing the whole fabric of the Christian system, and sending man afloat on an ocean of doubts, to find the church in the whims, the feelings and fancies of mankind. It is breaking down

the standards of divine truth, the acts of Christ and his apostles, and laying waste the whole vineyard of our divine Lord, to the ravages of corrupt man. I wish however my learned brethren may take a part in this investigation, and that all may speak freely and candidly, so that the question being examined in all its bearings, may be settled on its true and permanent footing. With this view and with the prayer that God may guide and bless us, I stop to hear.

The chairman then observed, that if any other gentleman had any thing to offer on the question, he hoped he would proceed.

Dr. Bishop. Sir, after what has been said by the Rev. gentleman, it would seem needless to enter into a further discussion of this question. His scripture authority and his appeal to the antients, cannot fail to carry conviction to every mind. Whatever the, Church of Christ is found to be in one age, it will continue to be to the end of time, unless the Divine Head and Founder of it see fit to change it. Of any change we possess no knowledge. That the church was at first a visible community, separate from the world, is evident from that authority which Christ gave to his apostles to govern it: for surely he would not

give them authority to govern an invisible community. That it was visible, is also to be infered from the visible sacraments which he authorized the apostles to administer in it; for surely he would not command them to baptize with water, and administer the elements of bread and wine, in the holy supper, to a church not to be distinguished from the world.

And that this Church is of the immediate appointment and institution of Christ, the scriptures teach, as well by their whole tenor, as by particular passages. He appointed its doctrines, its priesthood, its sacraments, and its worship. While on earth he was its visible as well as spiritual head. It is therefore, in every sense the Church of Christ. It, in no sense, belongs to the world.

When Christ was about to ascend, he established a visible head in the line of his apostles; but they were its head only by a delegated power. They acted under him and by his authority and when he appointed them as a visible head, he clothed them with authority to appoint others to succeed them. He then said "lo, I am with you always even unto the end of the world"; that ishe would accompany that power, that authority of

presiding in the church, and of ordaining others, to the end of time. And Sir, his promises never fail. He is then still in the world, and accompanies that apostolic power. It is as much his authority now, as it was eighteen hundred years ago. Unless his promise is broken, the succession, the visible succession is not broken. And he has promised that" the gates of Hell shall never prevail against it." They have not prevailed. This succession is capable of being traced from the apostles to the present day. So plain is it in the Scripture history, that "he who readeth may run and understand." And if we can place confidence in the early writers-men who shone as stars in the firmament by their wisdom, by their godliness, and by their sufferings in the Christian cause-men who wore out their lives and become willing victims to death, in the triumphant hope of rendering a joyful account of their stewarship-equally evident is it, that this Church and the regular successions of its apostolic priesthood, continued without a solitary interruption. And although men have set up churches and priesthoods of their own, and have railed at this apostolic authority, still it remains the same. As no man gave it, so can no man take it away. Saith