CHAPTER IV.

THE OUTLINE OF THE HISTORY OF EPISCOPACY.

Method of inquiry-Nineteenth century finds Episcopacy in
existence-Reformation in sixteenth century found Episcopacy
in possession -Schism between East and West in eleventh cen-
tury found it in possession-Armenian and Nestorian schisms in
the fifth century found it in possession-Aërius in the fourth
century found it in settled possession of the whole of Christen-
dom-Opponents' admissions that it was in settled possession
before the end of second century-Blondel-Salmasius-Du
Moulin-Campbell-Mosheim-Presbyterian Divines-Episco-
pacy could not have been thrust suddenly upon the Church—
nor developed slowly without approval of Apostles-An original
system could not have been destroyed without protest or remark
-No evidence of such destruction-No probable destroyers-
Uninterrupted transmission of Episcopate and Canon of Scrip-
ture, the testimony of history.

SECOND PART-THE ARGUMENT FROM

HOLY SCRIPTURE.

CHAPTER V.

THE CHURCH OF THE OLD TESTAMENT.

Christian Church must have had some original constitution-

Silence in Scripture a sufficient confirmation of Episcopacy-

Scripture not silent-Prelacy in harmony with mind of God-

First ministers of religion-Distinction of ranks between Abram

and Melchisedec-in Aaronic priesthood-among judges of

Israel and leaders of people-the One, the Twelve, and the

Seventy.

CHAPTER VI.

THE CHURCH UNDER THE PERSONAL MINISTRY OF

OUR LORD.

Our Lord shewn to have commenced the organisation of His
Disciples as a Church-Distinction of orders established by Him
-The Twelve and the Seventy-The permanence of the office
of the Seventy-The One, the Twelve, and the Seventy in the
New as in the Old Testament.

CHAPTER VII.

THE CHURCH in the Pentecostal Days.

The germ and the plant-The Church of the Personal Ministry

and the Church of Pentecost-The Church no invisible company,

but organised corporation under rule of Apostles-This organisa-

tion completed by ordination of Seven-Preserved during growth

of Church-Contained three orders-Apostles, Elders, and

Seven-Identification of Seventy and Elders-Fluctuation of

names.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE CHURCH OF THE FIRST CENTURY.

In what sense Apostles had no successors-Authority to ordain

and superintend capable of being transferred by them to suc-

cessors-This authority exercised by themselves, not at outset

only, but habitually-as long as each lived-Fresh members

added to the Apostolic band of superintendents after the Church

had been fairly started-Three orders throughout Scripture his-

tory-Unfairness of our opponents' demands upon the Scripture

record-Actual instances of Apostolic appointments of Prelates

-In Jerusalem-In Ephesus-In Crete-In Seven Churches of

Asia.

CHAPTER IX.

THE SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION OF THE Argument

FROM SCRIPTURE.

-

Summary-Ordinations recorded in Scripture-In first period
by Divine Lawgiver alone Ordination of Twelve of
Seventy-of Matthias-of Barnabas and Saul-In second period
by Apostles alone-Ordination of Timothy-In third period by
Superintendents alone-S. James, Timothy, Titus, not excep-
tional but specimen cases-in what sense Evangelists-Inference.

THIRD PART-THE ARGUMENT FROM

HISTORY.

CHAPTER X.

THE HISTORIES OF HEGESIPPUS AND EUSEBIUS.

Summary of fourfold argument-Character of earliest Church
Histories-Hegesippus-Eusebius-The Church in Jerusalem

according to Hegesippus and Eusebius-Church in Rome
according to Hegesippus, Clemens Romanus, Irenæus, and
Eusebius-Church in Antioch according to Eusebius, Ignatius,
and Tertullian-Church in Africa according to Tertullian—
Church in Asia Minor according to Polycarp, Ignatius, Irenæus,
and Tertullian-Inference.

CHAPTER XI.

THE EXAMINATION OF OBJECTIONS.

Preface Objections against practical value of Episcopacy—
against its antiquity-against its conformity with Old Testa-
ment teaching-against our evidence from New Testament-
Christ's warnings against prelatic spirit-Church Organisation—
Ministerial equality-Interchange of titles-Plurality of elders in
a congregation-Ruling and teaching elders-Objections against
our argument from history-Silence of many writers-Perplexity
of others-Distinction one of office or degree-Chorepiscopi-
Inference.

CHAPTER XII.

THE OPINIONS OF JEROME AND OTHERS.

Jerome, why selected-His life, character, and authority-
His testimony as to existence of these orders-and their corres-
pondence with orders of Aaronic priesthood-His opinion as to
origin of Episcopal office-Commentary on Titus-Letter to
Evangelus-His account of Church system in Alexandria-
Eutychius' embellishment of this account-Jerome's assertions
of Apostolic consecration of S. James-Polycarp-Clement-
The reputed orders of Ischiras- The opinion of African Bishops
-of African clergy-Statements as to Episcopal ordination by
Jerome - Epiphanius-Chrysostom― Augustine— Firmilian—
Bingham's Catena of Patristic evidence.

CHAPTER XIII.

APOSTOLICAL SUCCESSION PRACTICALLY CONSIDERED.

Pertinent question-Difficulty of giving away what we have
not got-"None but ministers can make a man a minister "
No ministers but those who have been given power to do so can
ordain-Authority of Presbyterian ministers-Of Methodist
ministers-Of Congregationalist ministers-Of Roman and
Greek clergy-Our position towards these-The practical In-
ference for ourselves.

CHAPTER XIV.

APOSTOLICAL SUCCESSION SHEWN ΤΟ BE NEITHER
ABSURD NOR BLASPHEMOUS.

The accusation-The succession one of offices not of persons-
Hooker-Book of Common Prayer-Presence of more Bishops
than one at a consecration-Practical effect of a secret flaw-
Question one of fact rather than of doctrine-Opposition to it
explained-Irvingites-Consecration of Archbishop Parker-
Fact of Apostolical Succession traced-S. Paul-Hegesippus-
Irenæus Clemens Alexandrinus - Tertullian — Augustine –
Jerome Chrysostom-Epiphanius-Eusebius-Late ecclesiasti-
cal records Quotation from A. Haddan.

CHAPTER XV.

-

PRACTICAL IMPORTANCE OF THE SUBJECT.

Greater and least commandments-Trust in the practical wis-
dom of the Son of God-His careful organising of His Church—
His promises to her-Direct contact with a society only through
its organisation-Harmony between Church message and Church
organisation-Examples of Quakers-Plymouth Brethren-Rome
-Final appeal-Supreme importance of personal religion.

Appendir.

NOTE A.-On the parallelism between the external evidence
for the Canon of New Testament Scripture, and that for the
Orders of the Christian ministry.

NOTE B.-On the Irvingites, or members of the (so-called)
Apostolic Church.

N the year 1876 I was engaged to preach in a town in a neighbouring Diocese, in

behalf of their Episcopal Endowment Fund. Before I had quite decided upon the precise line of my appeal, a Presbyterian friend directed my attention to a leading article in a local newspaper which has long been remarkable for its bitterness against the Church.

The office of this paper has been burned, and I am unable to procure a copy of this article which I have never seen since. But, as well as I can remember, it contained sentences to this effect: "Episcopacy is too costly a luxury for a disendowed Church." "Prelacy contains a principle which would destroy any commercial undertaking." The "Church in the time of the Apostles did very well without it." "The Church of the first centuries did very well without it." "The Presbyterian Church in all its branches throughout all the world does very well without it." Those statements were of course ludicrously untrue and the article worthless.