PRESBYTERS AND BISHOPS.

            “A presbyter,” saith Jerome, “is the same as a bishop, and before by the instigation of the Devil, religious parties were formed, and it was said among the people, I am of Paul, I of Apollos, and I of Cephas, the churches were governed by the common council of the presbyters. But afterwards when every one regarded those whom he baptised as his own, not Christ’s, it was decreed through the whole world, that one chosen from the presbyters should be placed over the others, that they might be charged with the whole care of the church, and the occasions of schism removed. Does any think it is merely our opinion, not the representation of the Scriptures that bishop and presbyter are one, the one being the title of age, and the other of office? Let him read the words of Paul to the Philippians: ‘Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons, grace to you and peace.’ Philippi is a city of Macedonia, and there surely cannot have been in one city many bishops of the kind now denoted by that title. But as at that time bishops were the same as those who were called presbyters, he denominated them indifferently bishops and presbyters. If this still seem doubtful to any one, let it be confirmed by another proof. It is written in the Acts of the Apostles, that when Paul had reached Miletus, he sent to Ephesus, and called the presbyters of the Church of that city, to whom on their arrival among other things he said, ‘Take heed to yourselves, and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit placed you bishops, to feed the Church of the Lord which he hath purchased with his own blood.’ Here notice carefully, that those whom he calls presbyters of the single city of Ephesus, he afterwards denominates bishops.”

            “These things we have quoted, that we might show that among the ancients presbyters and bishops were the same, but that gradually, in order that the germs of dissension might be extirpated, the whole care was devolved on one. As therefore the presbyters know that it is by the custom of the Church that they are subjected to him who is placed over them, so the bishops should know that it is r4ather by custom than a veritable divine appointment that they are superior to presbyters, and ought to govern the Church in common.”—Comment. On the Epist. To Titus, ch. 1.

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