Sometimes the great and blessed with the Father: I and the Father God appeared in the form of a are one, John x, 30. xiv, 10, 11. man or angel. It is evident that There is, we may hence infer, such the true God resided in this man a peculiar union between God and or angel; because, on account of the man Christ Jesus. both in his this union to proper Deity, the pre-existent and incarnate state, angel calls himself God, the Lord that he may be properly called God. He assumes the most exalt- God-man in one complex person. ed names and characters of God- Among those expressions of head. And the spectators, and sa- scripture which discover the precred historians, it is evident, con-existence of Christ, there are sesidéred him as true and proper veral from which we may derive a God: they paid him the highest certain proof of his divinity. Such worship and obedience. He is are those places in the Old Testaproperly styled the angel of God's ment, where the angel who appresence. The (messenger or) an-peared to the ancients is called God, the Almighty God, Jehovah, the Lord of Hosts, I am that I am, &c.

gel of the covenant, Isa. lxxii. Mal. iii, i.

The same angel of the Lord was the particular God and King of Dr. Watts supposes, that the the Israelites. It was he who doctrine of the pre-existence of the made a covenant with the patri- soul of Christ explains dark and archs, who appeared to Moses in difficult scriptures, and discovers the burning bush, who redeemed many beauties and proprieties of the Israelites from Egypt, who expression in the word of God, conducted them through the wil- which on any other plan lie unobderness, who gave the law at Si-served. For instance, in Col. i, nai, and transacted the affairs of 15, &c. Christ is described as the ancient church.

the image of the invisible God, the The angels who have appeared first-born of every creature. His since our blessed Saviour became being the image of the invisible God incarnate, have never assumed the cannot refer merely to his divine names, titles, characters, or wor-nature; for that is as invisible in ship, belonging to God. Hence the Son as in the Father: therewe may infer that the angel who, fore it seems to refer to his preunder the Old Testament, assum-existent soul in union with the ed divine titles, and accepted re- Godhead. Again: when man is ligious worship, was that peculiar said to be created in the image of angel of God's presence, in whom God, Gen. .i, 2. it may refer to God resided, or who was united to the God-man, to Christ in his prethe Godhead in a peculiar man-existent state. God says, Let us ner; even the pre-existent soul of make man in our image, after Christ, who afterwards took flesh our likeness. The word is redouand blood upon him, and was call-bled, perhaps to intimate that ed Jesus Christ on earth. Adam was made in the likeness of Christ represents himself as one the human soul of Christ, as well

as that he bore something of the image and resemblance of the di

vine nature.

They came first into England A. D. 1146. Their first monastery, called New-house, was erected in Lincolnshire, by Peter de Saulia, and dedicated to St. Martial. In the reign of Edward I this order had twenty-seven monasteries in England.

SUS CHRIST, and INDWELLING SCHEME; Robinson's Claude, p. 214, 311, vol. i; Watts's Works, On the other side it is affirmed, vol. v., p. 274, 385; Gill's Body that this doctrine of the pre-exist- of Div., vol. ii, p. 51; Robinson's ence of the human soul of Christ plea, p. 140; Fleming's Christolo weakens and subverts that of gy; Simpson's Apology for the his personality. 1. A pure intelli- Trin., p. 190; Hawker's Ser. on gent spirit, say they, the first, the the Divinity of Christ, p. 44, 45. most ancient, and the most excel- PREMONSTRANTES, or lent of creatures, created before PRÆMONSTRATENSES, a religious the foundation of the world, so order of regular canons, instituted exactly resembles the second per- in 1120 by S. Norbert, and thence son of the Arian trinity, that it is called Norbertines. The rule they impossible to shew the least differ-followed was that of St. Augustine, ence, except in name.-2. The with some slight alterations, and pre-existent intelligence supposed an addition of certain severe laws, in this doctrine is so confounded whose authority did not long surwith those other intelligences call-vive their founder. ed angels, that there is great danger of mistaking this human soul for an angel, and so of making the person of Christ to consist of three natures.-3. If Jesus Christ had nothing in common like the rest of mankind except a body, how could this semi-conformity make him a real man?-4. The passages quoted in proof of the pre-existence of the human soul of Jesus Christ are of the same sort with those which others allege in proof of the preexistence of all human souls.-5. This opinion, by ascribing the dignity of the work of redemption to this sublime human soul, detracts from the deity of Christ, and renders the last as passive as the first active.-6. This notion is contrary to scripture. St. Paul says, in all things it behoved him to be made like his brethren: he partook of all our infirmities, except sin. St. Luke says, he increased in stature and in wisdom, Heb. ii, 17. Luke ii, 52. See articles JE

PRESBYTER. See next article; and articles DEACON, ELDER.

PRESBYTERIANS. The title Presbyterian comes from the Greek word Пperepos, which signifies senior or elder, intimating that the government of the church in the New Testament was by pres byteries, that is, by association of ministers and ruling elders, possessed all of equal powers, without any superiority among them, either in office or order. The presbyterians believe, that the autho rity of their ministers to preach the Gospel, to administer the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's supper, and to feed the flock of Christ, is derived from the Holy

Ghost by the imposition of the taking the oversight thereof (ETIOXOhands of the presbytery; and they Toles acting as bishops thereof), oppose the independent scheme of not by constraint, but willingly; the common rights of Christians not for filthy lucre, but of a ready by the same arguments which are mind; neither as being LORDS used for that purpose by the Epis-over God's heritage, but being encopalians. They affirm, however, samples to the flock,' 1st Pet. v, that there is no order in the church 2, 9. From this passage it is evias established by Christ and his dent that the presbyters not only apostles superior to that of presby-fed the flock of God, but also goters; that all ministers being am-verned that flock with episcopal bassadors of Christ, are equal by powers; and that the apostle himtheir commission; that presbyter and bishop, though different words, are of the same import; and that prelacy was gradually established upon the primitive practice of making the moderator or speaker of the presbytery a permanent officer.

self, as a church officer, was nothing more than a presbyter or elder. The identity of the office of bishop and presbyter is still more apparent from Heb. xiii, 7, 17. and 1st Thess. v, 12; for the bishops are there represented as governing the flock, speaking to them These positions they maintain the word of God, watching for against the Episcopalians by the their souls, and discharging varifollowing scriptural arguments.-ous offices, which it is imposssible They observe, "That the apostles for any man to perform to more planted churches by ordaining bi-than one congregation. shops and deacons in every city; "From the last cited text it is that the ministers which in one evident that the bishops (gol verse are called bishops, are in the vous) of the Thessalonian churches next perhaps denominated presby- had the pastoral care of no more ters; that we no where read in the souls than they could hold personal New Testament of bishops, pres- communion with in God's worbyters, and deacons, in any one ship; for they were such as all church; and that, therefore, we the people were to know, esteem, are under the necessity of conclud- and love, as those that not only ing bishop and presbyter to be two were over them, but also closely names for the same church officer. laboured among them, and admoThis is apparent from Peter's ex- nished them.' But diocesan bihortation to the elders or presby-shops, whom ordinarily the hunters who were among the Jewish dredth part of their flock never Christians. The elders (presby-hear nor see, cannot be those biters) which are among you I ex-shops by whom that flock is admohort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and aslo a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: feed the flock of God which is among you,||

nished; nor can they be what Peter requires the bishops of the Jewish converts to be, ensamples to the flock. It is the opinion of D:. Hammond, who was a very learn

ed divine, and a zealot for episcopacy, that the elders whom the apostle James desires (Jas. v, 14) the sick to call for were of the highest permanent order of ecclesiastical officers; but it is self-evident that those elders cannot have been diocesan bishops, otherwise the sick must have been often without the reach of the remedy proposed to them.

There is nothing in scripture upon which the Episcopalian is more ready to rest his cause than the alleged episcopacy of Timothy and Titus, of whom the former is said to have been bishop of Ephesus, and the latter bishop of Crete; yet the Presbyterian thinks it as clear as the noon-day sun, that the presbyters of Ephesus were supreme governors, under Christ, of the Ephesian churches, at the very time that Timothy is pretended to have been their proper diocesan.

you overseers (Oxonous bishops), to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departure shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember that, by the space of three years, I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to Gorl, and to the word of his grace,' &c.

"From this passage it is evident that there was in the city of Ephesus a plurality of pastors of equal authority, without any superior pastor or bishop over them; for the apostle directs his discourse to them all in common, and gives them equal power over the whole flock. Dr. Hammond, indeed, imagines, that the elders whom “In Acts xx, 17, &c., we read, Paul called to Miletus were the that from Miletus Paul sent to bishops of Asia, and that he sent Ephesus, and called the elders for them to Ephesus, because that (presbyters) of the church. And city was the metropolis of the when they were come to him, he province. But, were this opinion said unto them, Ye know, from well founded, it is not conceivathe first day that I came into Asia, ble that the sacred writer would after what manner I have been have called them the elders of the with you at all seasons. And church of Ephesus, but the elders now, I know that ye all, among of the church in general, or the whom I have gone preaching the elders of the churches in Asia. Bekingdom of God, shall see my sides, it is to be remembered, that face no more. Wherefore I take the apostle was in such haste to be you to record this day, that I am at Jerusalem, that the sacred hispure from the blood of all men.torian measures his time by days; For I have not shunned to declare whereas it must have required seunto you all the counsel of God. veral months to call together the Take heed, therefore, unto your-bishops or elders of all the cities selves, and to all the flock over of Asia; and he might certainly which the Holy Ghost hath made have gone to meet them at Ephesus

and it is surely not to be supposed that, had he been their bishop, the apostle would have devolved the whole episcopal power upon the presbyters before his face. If

in less time than would be requisite for their meeting in that city, and proceeding thence to him at Miletus. They must therefore have been either the joint pastors of one congregation, or the pas-ever there were a season fitter than tors of different congregations in another for pointing out the duty one city; and as it was thus in of this supposed bishop to his dioEphesus, so it was in Philippi; cese, and his presbyters duty to for we find the apostle addressing him, it was surely when Paul was his epistle to all the saints in taking his final leave of them, and Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, discoursing so pathetically conwith the bishops and deacons.' cerning the duty of overseers, the From the passage before us it is coming of ravenous wolves, and likewise plain that the presbyters the consequent hazard of the of Ephesus had not only the name flock. In this farewell discourse but the whole power of bishops he tells them that He had not given to them by the Holy Ghost; shunned to declare unto them all for they are enjoined to do the the counsel of God.' But with whole work of bishops-TIVE what truth could this have been The exxanoia Toy -which signi-said, if obedience to a diocesan fies, to rule as weil as feed the church of God. Whence we see that the apostle makes the power of governing inseparable from that of preaching and watching; and that, according to him, all who are preachers of God's word, and watchmen of souls, are necessarily rulers or governors of the church, without being accountable for their management to any prelate, but only to their Lord Christ, from whom their power is derived.

"It appears, therefore, that the apostle Paul left in the church of Ephesus, which he had planted, no other successors to himself than presbyter-bishops, or Presbyterian ministers, and that he did not devolve his power upon any prelate. Timothy, whom the Episcopalians allege to have been the first bishop of Ephesus, was present when this settlement was made, Acts xx, 5; VOL. II.

bishop had been any part of their duty either at the time of the apostle's speaking, or at any future period? He foresaw that ravenous wolves would enter in among them, and that even some of themselves should arise speaking perverse things; and if, as the Episcopalians alle ge, diocesan episcopacy was the remedy provided for those evils, is it not strange, passing strange, that the inspired preacher did not foresee that Timothy, who was standing beside him, was destined to fill that important office; or, if he did foresee it, that he omitted to recommend him to his future charge, and to give him proper instructions for the discharge of his duty?

"But if Timothy was not bishop of Ephesus, what, it may be asked, was his office in that city? for that he resided there for some time, and was by the apostle inS s