lowing ages. For though they were both distin"guished by the same name, yet they differed ex"tremely, and that in many respects. A Bishop "during the first and second century, was a person "who had the care of one Christian assembly, “which, at that time, was, generally speaking, "small enough to be contained in a private house. "In this assembly he acted, not so much with the "authority of a master, as with the zeal and dili66 gence of a faithful servant. He instructed the "people, performed the several parts of divine worship, attended the sick, and inspected into the "circumstances and supplies of the poor." Eccles. Hist. i. 101, 104-106. Such is the representation which this learned historian gives of the government of the Christian church during the first, and the greater part of the second century.

Of the third century he speaks in the following "manner. "The face of things began now to change "in the Christian Church. The ancient method "of ecclesiastical government, seemed, in general, "still to subsist, while, at the same time, by im"perceptible steps, it varied from the primitive rule, "and degenerated towards the form of a religious "monarchy. For the Bishops aspired to higher "degrees of power and authority than they had "formerly possessed, and not only violated the " rights of the people, but also made gradual en"croachments upon the privileges of the Presby"ters. And that they might cover these usurpa"tions with an air of justice, and an appearance of

"reason, they published new doctrines concerning "the nature of the Church, and of the Episcopal "dignity. One of the principal authors of this change in the government of the church, was

Cyprian, who pleaded for the power of the Bish66 ops with more zeal and vehemence than had ever "been hitherto employed in that cause. This change in the form of ecclesiastical government 'was soon followed by a train of vices, which "dishonored the character and authority of those "to whom the administration of the church was "committed. For though several yet continued to exhibit to the world illustrious examples of primitive piety and Christian virtue; yet many were "sunk in luxury and voluptuousness; puffed up "with vanity, arrogance, and ambition; possessed "with a spirit of contention and discord; and ad"dicted to many other vices, that cast an unde"served reproach upon the holy religion, of which "they were the unworthy professors and ministers. "This is testified in such an ample manner,

“ Jesus; and sumptuous garments dazzled the

eyes and the minds of the multitude into an ig“norant veneration for their arrogated authority. “ The example of the Bishops was ambitiously imi"tated by the Presbyters, who, neglecting the sa“ cred duties of their station, abandoned themselves “ to the indolence and delicacy of an effeminate " and luxurious life. The Deacons, beholding the “ Presbyters deserting thus their functions, boldly “ usurped their rights and privileges; and the ef"fects of a corrupt ambition were spread through every

rank of the sacred order.” I. 265–267. I shall only add a short extract from the same writer's account of the fourth century. “The Bishops, “ whose opulence and authority were considerably “increased since the reign of Constantine, began to “ introduce gradually innovations into the form of “ ecclesiastical discipline, and to change the an“ cient government of the church. Their first

step was an entire exclusion of the people from all

part in the administration of ecclesiastical afe “ fairs; and afterwards, they, by degrees, divested “ even the Presbyters of their ancient privileges, " and their primitive authority, that they might “ have no importunate protesters to control their “ ambition, or oppose their proceedings; and prin“ cipally that they might either engross to them“ selves, or distribute as they thought proper, the

possessions and revenues of the church. Hence “ it came to pass that at the conclusion of the fourth

century, there remained no more than a mere

" shadow of the ancient government of the church. “ Many of the privileges which had formerly be

longed to the Presbyters and people, were usurp“ed by the Bishops; and many of the rights “which had been formerly vested in the Universal “ Church, were transferred to the emperors ; and " to subordinate officers and magistrates.” I. 348.

Such is the representation of Mosheim, one of the most learned men of the eighteenth century; and who had probably investigated the early history of the church with as much diligence and penetration as any man that ever lived.

The next citation shall be taken from Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. The hostility of this writer to the Christian religion is well known. Of course, on any subject involving the Divine origin of Christianity, I should feel little disposition either to respect his judgment, or to rely on his assertions. But on the subject before us, which is a question of fact, and which he treats historically, he had no temptation to deviate from impartiality; or, if such temptation had existed, it would have been likely to draw him to the side of ecclesiastical aristocracy and splendor, rather than to that of primitive simplicity. His deep and extensive learning, no competent judge ever questioned: and, indeed, his representations on this subject, are fortified by so many references to the most approved writers that they cannot be considered as resting on his candor or veracity alone *.

* The pi ous episcopal divine, Dr. Haweis, speaking of

Mr. Gibbon thus describes the character and duties of Christian Bishops in the first and second centuries : “ The public functions of religion were

solely entrusted to the established ministers of the “ church, the Bishops and the Presbyters; two ap“pellations which in their first origin, appear to “ have distinguished the same office, and the same " order of persons. The name of Presbyter was “ expressive of their age, or rather of their gravity “ and wisdom. The title of Bishop denoted their “ inspection over the faith and manners of the “ Christians who were committed to their pastoral “ care. In proportion to the respective numbers of “the faithful, a larger or smaller number of these

Episcopal Presbyters guided each infant congre“gation, with equal authority, and with united “ counsels. But the most perfect equality of free“ dom requires the directing hand of a superior

magistrate ; and the order of public deliberations “ soon introduces the office of a President, invested

at least with the authority of collecting the senti“ments, and of executing the resolutions of the as

.

Mr. Gibbon's mode of representing this subject, expresses himself in the following manner.