his Epistles to Timothy. Anacletus succeeded him ; after him, in the third place, Clement received the episcopate from the Apostles." (Lib. 3. c. iii.) This is diocesan episcopacy. Again," Polycarp was not only instructed by the Apostles, but also by them constituted bishop in Asia, in the Church of Smyrna.” -Tertullian de Præscr. Numerous additions might be made to these proofs of episcopacy being an institution of a clearly diocesan character in the apostolic age.

"Advancement to a higher grade."-It is by some alleged, that this is not the proper meaning of the original word, rendered in our translation " a good degree." In support of the use made of the word, I quote the criticism of one of the most eminent scholars of our day: Those who have well discharged the office of deacons, gain thereby an honourable step to further promotion, namely to the office of presbyter or bishop. Theophylact explains βαθμὸν, by προκοπήν (advancement). And so almost all commentators, ancient and modern."-Bloomfield Rec. Syn.

F.-p. 64.

"The Angel of the Church was its presiding minister."-This, Dr. Doddridge questions, asserting "that these angels were but simple Presbyters, or parish priests in their several congregations. (Lect. ii. p. 344.) It will be seen, that (independent of the argument with which this note is connected, and which makes such a supposition utterly untenable) this somewhat prejudiced commentator has not the support of the ancient Church. "Angelos episcopos dicit, &c."- "He names the bishops angels, as is taught in the Apocalypse of John." Ambrose. in Apoc. cap. 1. By the Divine Voice, the president (præpositus) of the Church is dignified by the name of Angel."-Augustine.

one.

G.-p. 71.

"No Christian Church could be found without its presiding bishop."-The negative argument in favor of the divine origin of Episcopacy is a very persuasive Our opponents admit that Episcopacy, properly so called, was in the Church so early as the days of Ignatius, (Doddridge, Lect. 116.) but deny that it was framed by Christ or his Apostles. If so, it must have been introduced into the Church within

the first century. And yet the Church is utterly

silent on the subject of this (supposed) innovation upon the purity of the system provided by the Saviour. Is it likely, is it within the compass of possibility, that when so many anxious hearts and vigilant eyes were fixed upon every step of the progress of Christianity, such a striking novelty could have been introduced without exciting attention and remonstrance? It should be recollected also that some of the Apostles lived till near the martyrdom of Ignatius, and would not have permitted an overthrow of the original system. The truth is, that there is no alternative between admitting Episcopacy to have been founded by Christ and established by the Apostles, and denying its existence altogether.

H. p. 71.

"Modern Research."-All Churches subsisting from early times, upon whose condition light has been thrown by the investigations of travellers, are found to be Episcopal. The Coptic, the Abyssinian Churches are such; and the Syrian Church of Malabar, which Dr. Buchanan has introduced to Christian notice, not only is Episcopal in its government, but had no idea of the possibility of a Church in which there were not three orders in the ministry. The following conversation, which took place between him and one of the Syrian bishops, is recorded in his "Christian

Researches." "I mentioned that there was a Kasheesha or presbyter Church in our own kingdom, in which every presbyter was equal to another. And are there no deacons in holy orders? None. And what, is there nobody to overlook the presbyters ? Not one. And who is the angel of their Churches? They have none. There must be something imper

fect there."

195

SERMON III.

A. p. 76.

Ir is evident, from the language of the Canons, that the design of the Service for the Visitation of the Sick was to supply a help to the inexperienced minister, and not to constitute a form of prayer from which no clergyman should be at liberty to depart. Every minister who is licensed to preach, has it in his power to adopt what course he pleases in the discharge of this duty. This is obvious from the 41st Canon-" When any person is dangerously sick in any parish, the minister or curate, having knowledge thereof, shall resort unto him, or her, to instruct and comfort them in their distress, according to the order of the Communion Book if he be no preacher; or if he be a preacher, then as he shall think most needful and convenient."

B. p. 77.

"Baptism is Regeneration."-This assertion of Mr. James is contradicted not only by the Articles