in which they existed; when controversies and heresies arose; and artful corruptions of the text, and subtle perversions of the meaning of the Scriptures were attempted; then some degree of human learning was a necessary

с

The necessity not only of a certain proportion of learning, but also of a continual progress in learning is pointed out with great force and clearness by the present able and excellent Bishop of London, in a charge to the clergy of his diocese, delivered in 1822. "The Laity," he observes," have a right to expect that the attainments in learning and piety of the Clergy, considered as a body, should rise at least above the ordinary level of other classes of society. Such comparative excellence I believe to have been found in every country where the discipline or doctrine of the Church has been maintained in tolerable purity. I even think it essential to the continued existence of any religious establishment."

His Lordship then remarks that even in the darkest ages of the Church, however deeply the clergy were involved in the prevailing vice and ignorance, the laity were still more so; and that the feeble embers of the sacred fire were cherished almost entirely by the former, till in due time they were revived, and gradually fanned into that full blaze which now enlightens all Europe, and sheds its rays through the remotest regions of the globe. But that when this revival took place, he remarks, that the largest share of improvement fell to the laity, and the clergy were not benefitted to an equal degree; and consequently lost the ascendency, which had been preserved without difficulty by their less meritorious predecessors in a darker age."

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"In referring," he proceeds, "to these historical facts, it is simply my object to urge the necessity of maintaining our proper position in relation to the mass of society: to press the important truth, that, if other classes advance in knowledge, intelligence, virtue, and piety; and the clergy, whatever are their positive merits in all these respects, continue

qualification for the sacred office, and a necessary point to be examined into by those, to whom was committed the power of selecting individuals to fill it. Fitness for the office, considered with reference to time, objects, and circumstances, regulated the choice of the Apostles, and fitness still regulates the choice of their successors.

I return from this digression, to trace the rise and progress of the Ministerial office. Immediately after the ascension of our Saviour, St. Peter stated upon the authority of Prophecy, the necessity of appointing an Apostle in the room of Judas Iscariot; and the disciples, after praying to their Lord and Master, for his assistance and direction, elected Matthias by lot, and their conduct

stationary, they are placed on a different level in regard to their flocks, and will suffer a proportionate loss in their credit and weight with the public, and consequently, in their professional utility. It is incumbent on us to advance with the progress of the times; and every individual should act as if the whole interests of religion depended on his personal character, and the faithful exertion of his powers within his allotted sphere. In all ranks of society are numbers of persons who are qualified to judge of our learning, of the soundness of our doctrine, and the efficiency of our instructions, and who regard with disgust even the slightest inattention to duty, or impropriety of moral conduct."-Bp. of London's Charge, 1822: extracted from Christ. Remem. vol. iv. pp. 749, 750.

d. Acts i.

in this proceeding was justified by the sanction of the Holy Ghost, who descended upon all the twelve Apostles, and enabled them to enter upon the great work of establishing the religion of Jesus."

These twelve Apostles were at first, the only preachers of the Gospel, and the sphere of their operations was confined to the city of Jerusalem. “Their success in making converts caused the concerns of the Church so to increase, that they found it necessary to take from the disciples seven persons to whom they gave the name of deacons, (Acts vi.) and assigned certain specific duties; and this was done by a regular choice, and subsequent ordination from the Apostles themselves."

After this we find in various parts of the Acts, and in the Epistles, notices of, and allusions to the appointment of fresh ministers, according to the exigences of the Church, and the increasing number of converts. Paul and Barnabas, we read, "ordained elders in every church." "Different persons were appointed to preside over different churches, as Timothy over that at Ephesus, and Titus over those of Crete; and St.Paul gives both Timothy and Titus particular directions concerning the ordination of Bishops and Elders within their

e

* Bp. of Winchester's Elem. Christ. Theol.

f Ibid.

respective jurisdictions. He commands Timothy to lay hands on no man suddenly,' (1 Tim. v. 22.) that is, not to ordain any person till he was fully convinced of his fitness for the ministerial office; and he gives this precept, which proves, that it was intended. there should be a succession of ministers in the Church. The things which thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same

"And what reason is there why Christ should appoint officers to rule his Church then, which will not hold now? Did the people of God need ministers then to be as stars, (as they are called in Scripture,) to lead them unto Christ, and do they not as well need them now? Had people need of guides then, when the doctrine of the Gospel was confirmed to them by miracles, and have they not much more now? Must there be some then to oppose gainsayers, and must they have an absolute liberty of prophesying now, when it is foretold what times of seduction the last shall be? Must there be some then to rule over their charge, as they that must give an account, and is not the same required still? Were there some then, to reprove, rebuke, exhort, to preach in season, out of season, and is there not the same necessity of these things still? Was it not enough then, that there were so many in all Churches, that had extraordinary gifts of tongues, prophesying, praying, interpretation of tongues, but besides those there were some pastors of office, whose duty it was to give attendance to reading, to be wholly in these things, and now, when these extraordinary gifts are ceased, is not there a much greater necessity than there was then, for some to be set apart, and wholly designed for this work?"-Stilling fleet's Irenicum, p. 159. Vide also, note in Mant and D'Oyley's Bible, being an extract from Bp. Beveridge on the words, "Lo, I am with you alway," Matt. xxviii. 20.

commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.' (2 Tim. ii. 2.)".”

That this direction of the Apostle was sacredly followed by his successors, and throughout the Church, an abundance of evidence may be produced'. From the days of our Saviour, his Church has been superintended, his Sacraments administered by a regular succession of ministers, "lawfully called and sent; which be chosen, and called to this work by men, who have public authority given unto them in the congregation to call, and send ministers into the Lord's vineyard."

Men thus "called and sent," are called and sent according to that will which none should "As presume to question. my Father hath sent me so send I you." These are the words of Christ, and the interpretation of them is recorded in the practice of the Apostles of the primitive Church, and of the Church in every age, down to the present day. Ministers so "called "have his commission, his authority, his assistance: he is "with us to the end of the world." The Holy

h Bp. of Winchester's Elem. Christ. Theol.

* "Since the days of the effusion of the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner, on the primitive teachers and preachers of the Gospel, the gift is of an ordinary nature, and although I have no doubt, but that the mind of every minister, and