tuted the other two orders. After his ascension, the Apostles became the visible heads of the Church, the lower orders being Bishops (called also Priests or Pres

died, their successors did not assume the name or title of Apostle, but took that of Bishop, which from that time was applied exclusively to the highest order of the ministry, the two other orders being the Presbyters and Deacons. Thus it has continued to the present day. In the New Testament we find the Apostles (and none others) performing the peculiar offices of the Episcopal order. They ordained, (Acts vi. 6,) and when they had prayed they laid their hands on them,' [the seven deacons.] The like Episcopal powers we find in Scripture committed to others who had been advanced to that order. Not only the power of ordination, but a particular charge in conferring it, is given to Timothy, that he lay hands suddenly on no man,' that he caution the Presbyters under him that they teach no other doctrine.' St. Paul also mentions some of the qualifications for Deacons, (1 Tim. iii. 8.) Surely three orders are here recognized! The same powers are also committed to Titus, to' ordain elders in every city,' (Tit. i. 5.) But let us now refer to ancient writers. The earliest ecclesiastical writer extant is Cle

sects who call themselves Christians to be true Churches, how can there now be such a sin as schism? For if one party has a right to withdraw itself from the Church and set up a new Church, then another factionbyters, and Elders) and Deacons. When the Apostles can claim the same privilege, and so on indefinitely. And such is the case in the present times. Are you willing, sir, to regard Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, and the various sects into which each of these are subdivided, together with Unitarians, Friends, Dunkers, Mormons, and all other sects, as possessing equal claims to be a portion of the true Church of Christ ?" "By no means," answered he, "for I think one sect may be much farther from the truth than another." "That is my own opinion," I replied; "and now I will, in a few words, give you my reasons for believing that the Episcopal Church, (or as I prefer to call it, 'the Church,') is, to say the least, not as far from the truth as the different denominations around us. It is believed by Episcopalians, that the Saviour, when upon earth, established a Church of which he was the ruler and head, and with which he promised to be present 'alway, even unto the end of the world.' They believe that during the forty days in which he continued upon earth, after his resurrection, speaking' to his disciples ' of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God,' (i. e. the Church,) he gave them such directions for the gov-mens Romanus, who wrote his first epistle to the Coernment and order of the Church, as were necessary; which directions they consequently would follow; and that, from their subsequent practice, these requisitions of the Saviour are to be ascertained. And that this Church might endure forever, some provision must be made for the renewal of its officers, so that when any were taken away by death, or otherwise removed, their places might be supplied with suitable successors. That the Saviour made all necessary provision for these purposes, there can be no doubt; and that the organization which he directed his Apostles to establish, was Episcopal, can, I think, be readily proved. By Episcopal' organization I mean, an institution consisting of three orders in the ministry-Bishops, Priests, (Presbyters or Elders,) and Deacons-continued in regular succession from the Apostles; and that of these orders, the Bishops alone possess the power of performing regular and valid ordinations."

6

"But I should be pleased to hear some of your proofs that there have always been these three orders, in the ministry," said the Presbyterian gentleman. "I cannot find any thing in Scripture to favor your opinions."

rinthians within forty years of our Saviour's ascension. And he speaks not only of Presbyters and Deacons, but of Bishops likewise as an order in use in his time: clearly distinguishing also between the two orders of Bishops and Presbyters. In the epistles of Ignatius, who was Bishop of Antioch seventy years after Christ, in which he continued forty years, being martyred in the year of our Lord 108, just seven years after the death of St. John,-the three orders are clearly and exactly distinguished in numerous passages. Clement of Alexandria, who wrote in the latter end of the second century, mentions the three orders as the established use of the Church in his time. Origen, Tertullian, and infinite other authors from their times to the present, treat of these distinct orders in the Christian ministry. And it is worthy of remark that early wri ters have been careful to record the ecclesiastical gencalogy or succession of the Bishops in several of the principal Churches. Thus, we have the catalogues of the Bishops of Jerusalem, Antioch, Rome, &c.; though it does not appear that the Presbyters and Deacons were honored with any similar notice. In like manner catalogues of kings and emperors, and other chief rulers, are preserved, when the names of officers subor(dinate to them are suffered to pass into oblivion."

"You will find," I replied, "that different orders in the ministry are recognized or referred to throughout the Bible. In the Jewish Church (which, it should be "Oh I am willing to grant," said the Presbyterian, remembered, was established by God himself) there "that Episcopacy was of very early origin, but neverwere the three orders of High-Priests, Priests, and Le-theless I do not consider it a divine institution, for I vites. When the Saviour was upon earth, (and he 'came not to destroy but to fulfil,') he was the visible head of the Church- the Bishop and Shepherd of souls,'-and the Apostles and seventy disciples consti

confess your argument from Scripture has been far from convincing me. The twelve Apostles were undoubtedly of a higher order than the Elders or Presby ters, but I am of the opinion that when they (the Apos

tles) died, they left no successors to fill their places except these same Presbyters whose order already existed."

refer to the three orders in the ministry. I remember one or two passages in the epistles of St. Ignatius. I give them in the very language of the first Bishop of Antioch. By my fellow servant Sotio, the Deacon in whom I rejoice, inasmuch as he is subject unto his Bishop as unto the grace of God, and to the Presbyters as to the law of Jesus Christ. Wherefore it will become you also, not to use your Bishop too familiarly, on account of his youth, but to yield all reverence to him, according to the power of God the Father, as also I perceive that your holy Presbyters do.' In another place he writes, "there is but one flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ; and one cup in the unity of his

with his Presbytery and the Deacons, my fellow servants; that so whatsoever ye do, ye may do it according to the will of God.' I regret that I have not a

you from the abundance of passages in which he enumerates these three orders in the ministry, always recognizing the supremacy of Bishops. Now I desire to ask you, how can the force of such testimony be evaded?”

My Presbyterian friend for a few moments was silent, then seeming, though reluctantly, to yield somewhat to the convictions of his better judgment, he said: "I was not aware before that Episcopalians possessed so many proofs in support of their claims. But I have heard our ministers say that the introduction of Episcopacy could be accounted for by considering it as a gradual usurpation, that is, that the oldest Presbyter in each Church began to arrogate to himself certain privileges which had before been committed to all the Presbyters equally."

'Well, my friend," I replied, "let us examine the Scripture argument again. And that there may be no misunderstanding as to the application we make of the words' Bishops' and' Presbyters,' I will state that the distinctive office of Bishops is to ordain ministers and govern the Church, while the office of a Presbyter is to administer the Sacraments and preach the Gospel. Scripture affords abundant evidence of this distinction in these respective offices. The Apostles, we are informed, wherever they founded Churches, ordained in them Elders, or Presbyters, or Pastors, or Overseers-blood; one altar, as also there is one Bishop together for they are called by all these names-and, at the first overlooked them themselves. This you seem willing to admit. Afterwards, as the Church increased, they committed to others the power of ordaining and super-copy of these epistles with me, that I might read to intending the Churches. Thus St. Paul left Titus in Crete that he might set in order the things that were wanting, and ordain Elders (or Presbyters) in every city, (Tit. i. 5.) Do you suppose that the Presbyters in Crete had a similar authority to ordain and govern? Surely, if they had all received the same commission, Titus would have been interfering with their authority. St. Timothy likewise was desired to abide at Ephesus, that he might charge some that they teach no other doctrine,' (Tim. i. 3.) Why could not the Presbyters already there be charged with this duty if they had equal ministerial authority with Timothy, who, you must recollect, was not one of the twelve original Apostles, but one set apart by St. Paul to the apostolical office by the laying on of his hands, (2 Tim. i. 6)? He was to receive accusation against Presbyters, (1 Tim. v. 19.) But are we informed that they were to receive accusation against him? He was required to lay hands suddenly on no man, (1 Tim. v. 22.) the Elders or Presbyters a like commission? 'He, like Titus, had received an authority quite distinct from that of the other Presbyters. Read only the epistles to Titus and Timothy, particularly the first to Timothy, and say whether those two holy men did not receive from St. Paul a commission beyond and superior to that of ordinary priests. Then turn to the Revelation of St. John, and you will find the system of the episcopate by that time fully established, and a regular Bishop, under the name of angel of the Church, established in each of the great cities. The line of evidence is (as I have before mentioned) continued in the first Christian writers, and as if the title of Apostle was too hallowed and holy to be continued to any besides those who had conversed with our Lord in the days of His flesh, or had been miraculously called by him, the name of Bishop soon became exclusively used to denote the office of those who had been raised above the priest-noticed this resistance, or recorded the great change?" hood to exercise superior functions, especially to ordain, confirm, and take oversight of the Church.' The early Fathers, as I have already told you, frequently

My friend spoke in such a faltering tone that I could plainly perceive that he was himself far from being satisfied with this mode of reasoning—reductio Had { ad absurdum. I felt disposed, however, to do justice to his argument, and answered: “I have heard this same attempt to explain away the divine right of Episcopacy before, but as Ignatius, who lived before the death of the Apostle St. John, mentions the three orders of ministry, and as these orders are continually referred to by ecclesiastical writers from that time to the present, I sce no other alternative than to suppose that the introduction of Episcopacy occurred before the time of St. Ignatius; in other words, before the Apostles' departure from the world. Now does it not appear a moral impossibility if the Apostles instituted a single order of Presbyters that every Church, throughout the world should, with one accord, so soon have rejected the Apostles' institutions, and have established an Episcopate, as a separate order? Must there not have been some resistance on the part of the Presbyters? and would not some writer of that period have

At this moment, the coach stopped before a neat rural hotel, and we alighted for breakfast. [TO BE CONTINUED.]

For the Evergreen.

LOVE THEE TOO WELL, DEAR MOTHER CHURCH.

SET TO MUSIC BY THE EDITOR.

Love thee too well, dear Mother Church! And can it

And ever as the season comes,

My steps still there are led, Where thou, with all a mother's care, Dost for thy children's wants prepare The heaven-descended bread.

Thou early taught'st my infant lips

Thy strains of prayer and praise; And rais'dst my heart from earthly toys, To look for higher, holier joys,

By thy celestial lays.

And as the rolling year glides on,

With thee I duly hie,

To see my Lord at Bethlehem,
Or crown'd with thorny diadem,
On gloomy Calvary;

Or view him in the garden tomb,

Secur'd by seal and stone;

Or mark him rend death's icy chain,
And rising upward, mount again
His everlasting throne.

Untaught by thy maternal love,

Where would this soul have been?
O'er schism's troubled billows tost,
Or 'chance, alas! forever lost

In the dark gulf of sin.

Then, can I love thee e'er too well,
Who so hast loved me?
No! let the moments of my life
With deep affection all be rife,

And tender love to thee.

Let all my powers, though weak and frail,
Be ever wholly thine;

Since not a gift which man can bring,
Would be too rich an offering,
To proffer at thy shrine.

Keep me, O keep me, mother, then,

With thy unchanging love:
And when earth's final hour has come,
Conduct me to my Master's home,
In brighter world's above.

For the Evergreen.

GLEANINGS BY THE WAY-SIDE.

ON THE MANAGEMENT OF CHILDREN.

Christians are imbibing so much of the cast and temper of the age, that they seem to be anxiously tutoring their children, and preparing them by all manner of means, not for a better world, but for the present. Yet in nothing should the simplicity of faith be more unreservedly exercised, than with regard to children. Their appointments and stations, yea, even their present and eternal happiness or misery, so far as they are influenced by their states and conditions in life, may be decided by the most minute and trivial events, all of which are in God's hand, and not in ours. An unbelieving spirit pervades, in this respect too intimately, the Christian world. IBID.

THE BENEFIT OF GOOD EARLY IMPRESSIONS.

When the prodigal son came to himself, he thought upon the happiness of his father's house; he recalled the innocent recollections of his infant years. In all such cases, there is a return to past impressions. An eminent Christian, the great St. Augustine, has left us the instructive record of his early training, his subsequent wanderings, and his final restoration. There is one inimitable passage, full of hope and consolation for anxious and afflicted parents. His excellent mother was in deep affliction for his youthful errors; in her sorrow, she consulted the good and pious Archbishop of Milan, and his reply should never be forgotten:"Fear not, my daughter," said the venerable Ambrose, "it is impossible that the child of such tears should perish." This child, wanderer though he had been, lived to become a most distinguished object, and champion of the converting grace of God; a disciple of the school of the converted St. Paul, no less remarkable than was St. Chrysostom of the school of the beloved disciple. BP. JEBB.

ON PROMOTING THE GLORY OF GOD.

In the eyes of the true Christian every thing will assume an air of importance, which, however remotely, has a tendency to evince our devotion, national or individual; and nothing will be considered unimportant, the doing or abstaining from which may be construed into a mark of irreverence or disrespect. Whether he eat, or whether he drink, or whatsoever he does, he I will do all to the glory of God.

On this principle it is, that the holy Church descends in her rubrics to the minutest details, which her faithful children will love to observe, kneeling where they GREAT wisdom is requisite in correcting the evils of ought to kneel, and responding where they ought to rechildren. A child is bashful, perhaps: but, in stimu-spond; and on this principle it is, that her faithful lating this child, we are too apt to forget future conse- minister will pay due regard to every ceremony, nor quences. "Hold up your head. Don't be vulgar." even array himself in the sacred vestment without a At length they hold up their heads, and acquire such reverential feeling. In avoiding superstition, we too airs, that, too late, we discover our error. We forgot often fall into the opposite extreme of irreverence. But that we were giving gold, to purchase dross. We for- we may depend upon it, that he is no truc philosopher, got that we were sacrificing modesty and humility, to I may add, no true Christian, who attends not to little make them young actors and old tyrants. CECIL. things.

DR. HOOK.

EDITOR'S TABLE.

We address you, kind readers, for the first time, in the character of an editor. And first of all, most sincerely do we WISH YOU A HAPPY NEW YEAR. May health, comfort, friends, and Heaven's choicest gifts and blessings be yours. May we be truly sensible of God's mercy in bringing us in safety to the beginning of another year. May we seek of Him pardon for all our misspent time, and resolve, through His help, to be more diligent in redeeming the time to come. May we be endued with that true spirit of piety that will enable us, in whatever condition our Heavenly Father may see fit to place us, to say from the heart, "Thy will be done."

facts of the case.

We have also promise of contributions on various subjects. We desire to express our hearty thanks to the learned author for his excellent Biographical Sketch of Bishop of Seabury.“ Aurelia,” which commences with the present number, will be read with much pleasure and profit. Our readers need not be informed that this "Tale of the Martyrs” is from the pen of one of our most polished Church-writers. The present number of "Sketches from a Clergyman's Diary" (the author wishes us to say) was prepared in much haste, though the facts and conversation, as far as he recollects, are strictly true. These "Sketches" will be continued.

We have been unavoidably delayed in preparing this our first number, but we intend to be prompt in having our periodical in the hands of our subscribers on the

We trust our readers will not attribute it to sheer selfishness on our part when we respectfully request them to use their influence in promoting the circulation of our Church Monthly Offering. The revival of attention to Church principles, which has recently taken place, will also, we hope, lead every Churchman to give a decided preference to a periodical that shall contain nothing which he would be unwilling to admit into his family circle.

The first number of the Evergreen is before you. It has commenced under even far better auspices than we had anticipated. We rejoice that so many have evinced their zeal in promoting a periodical Church-first of each month. We shall endeavor by punctuLiterature. The times certainly demand it. The ality as well as by constant efforts for securing contriyouth of the Church will read something, and we leave butions of a high literary and religious tone, to merit a it with every pastor and with every parent to say large share of Church patronage. whether the lambs of the flock shall not be fed with wholesome nourishment. But we do not design our pages exclusively for the young; for we trust that parents (as well as children) may find a goodly portion not uninteresting or inapplicable to themselves. And the editor trusts, (since he has been prevented, by a continued pulmonary disease, from entering upon the duties of the holy ministry, for which he has been some years endeavoring to prepare himself,) that he may be enabled, through the blessing of God, to send forth a Monthly Magazine that will tend to promote "EVANGELICAL TRUTH and APOSTOLIC ORDER." From the con- By referring to the terms, our subscribers will see tents of the present number, our readers can judge, that we require payment in advance, or on delivery of in some measure, of the literary and religious charac- { the first number. We trust that every subscriber, who ter of the articles which will be admitted into the col-has not already paid, will comply with these terms. If umns of the Evergreen. It does not become us to speak of the merits of our periodical. We can only assure our patrons that we shall endeavor to perform faithfully all that we have promised. But we prefer to leave our Church readers to judge for themselves.

he has a Floral Dictionary at hand, we request him to look out the symbolical interpretation of the Evergreen; and then let a "word to the wise be sufficient."

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

Our contributors, in most instances, have desired to withhold their real names, not feeling particularly ambitious of figuring in the pages of a magazine. To such we will say, "if you will not permit us to publish BERNARD LESLIE, or a Tale of the Last Ten Years; your names, we hope you will still favor us by allowing-THE FOREST OF ARDEN, a Tale Illustrative of the us to publish your essays." Many Church writers of English Reformation;-THE SIEge of Litchfield, A acknowledged reputation have signified their willing-Tale Illustrative of the Great Rebellion ;—CHARLES ness to co-operate with us and assist us in our undertak-LEVER, or the Man of the Nineteenth Century.-These ing. We are making arrangements for a series of short four works are from the prolific pen of the Rev. W. and pertinent articles on "the Church System of Edu-Gresley, M. A., Prebendary of Litchfield; and are recation," as also for some instructive historical sketches published in this country by J. A. Sparks, New York. of English Church History, especially of "the Life and." Bernard Leslie" professes to delineate in its progress Times of Charles I." The school-books and more an account of the great change or modification of recent works of history in use, have too long been permitted to give our young people a partial, a defective, or a false account of the men and events of this era, and it is time that they be presented with the

opinion which has taken place within the last ten years. The parochial clergyman, whose detailed biography furnishes the subject-matter of the book, appears to have enterd upon his ministerial duties, in the con