to others was of God, and not of themselves, they bowed the knee daily before him, on behalf of those to whom they ministered, to entreat for them the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ. Nor were their prayers presented in vain. The people received an unction from the Holy One, and knew all the truth as it is in Jesus. They were brought out of darkness into marvellous light. They became, in the possession and diffusion around them of the knowledge of God, an enlightened and holy priesthood. The church, at this period of its history, was the pillar and ground of truth; the basis, as broad as the boundaries which embraced the great mass of its members; the pillar, as firm as their united strength could make it. It was a pillar of light, from which was held forth to the world around, in living, lucid, radiant characters, "the word of life."

That it was not an empty compliment, an unmeaning epithet, which Peter applied to the church when he called its members a holy and a royal priesthood, and Paul, when he called it the pillar and ground of truth, is evident from the fact, that the members of the church at Jerusalem were associated with the elders and Apostles, in the council which was convened to determine the question which had arisen respecting circumcision. After there had been much disputing, Peter rose up and gave his decision upon the case. When he had concluded, then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Saul. And

after they had held their peace, James connects with the facts of the case, as they had been stated by his brethren who preceded him, the predictions which had been given before respecting them, and delivers the conclusion to which it behoved them to come. Then, all hearts and voices being united in one judgment, "it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia."*

The manner in which these letters were indited, has not been recorded without design. Inspired Apostles could associate themselves, in a solemn act of deliberation and legislation, with the brethren of the church. Those who presume that they possess much more authority than the Apostles can be shewn to have exercised; who can absolve from all sins; who can confer the Holy Ghost; who can decree rites and ceremonies, which, on peril of excommunication, the people are bound to receive, would, as may reasonably be supposed, deem it an affront offered to their dignity, to suggest the association with them, in their councils or convocations, of the brethren of the church;

*Acts xv. 22, 23.

-so much have the people subsequently sunk, or the teachers, though uninspired, subsequently risen.

It will be admitted, by all who understand the nature of the apostolic commission, that the Apostles themselves were fully competent to determine the question which was brought before the council, without the co-operation either of people or elders; that their decision would have been binding; and that it could, were any disposed to cavil or reject, have been decisively and effectually enforced. But then, actual strength and firmly-settled authority are usually blended with consideration, forbearance, condescension, indifference to form and punctilio, generous concession, liberal satisfaction and pleasure in the exercise of courtesy, the infusion of confidence, the reciprocation of regard. On the other hand, usurpation, especially ecclesiastical, is uniformly jealous of its dignity; carefully withdrawn from familiar intercourse with the people, and encompassed with mysterious forms, inspiring awe and humble deference; stern and prompt in its suppression of every effort of the free-born mind; lordly in its gait; distant and repulsive in its demeanour; and armed with fearful anathemas, and the power of direful excommunications, to punish the "wicked errors" of those who venture to impugn the foundation of its titles, decrees, or authority.

Had the spirit of the Apostles been uniformly breathed by those who have called themselves their successors, schism and dissent would have been things

of but rare occurrence in the church. But by how much legitimate authority has been wanting, by so much has the lording it over God's heritage increased and abounded. Indeed that which was known as the heritage, which constituted in apostolic times the church, is now scarcely recognized as forming a component part of it. The term has been diverted from its original application, and is most commonly employed in a sense in which it never occurs, to which it never approximates in the pages of the New Testament. It has at length, in general usage, come to stand, not for the people who were wont to compose the church, but for the hierarchy, which ministers and rules in it. So that to confide in the church, is to believe whatever the hierarchy has settled and determined to be orthodox and true; to submit to the church, is to be obedient to what the hierarchy enjoins; to be liberal to the church, is to increase the temporalities of the members of the hierarchy; to be grateful for the advantages derived from the church, is to be thankful for the varied offices which the members of the hierarchy are appointed to perform. It never occurs to the people, in their simplicity, that if things were as they should be, and as, in apostolic times, they were wont to be, Christ, and not the church, would be the great object of faith and confidence; the unfettered Scriptures, and not human creeds and decrees of councils, would be the authoritative guide and rule of faith ;that, instead of a hierarchy towering in secular dignity

over them, there would be only pastors and teachers watching for their souls, as those who must give account of the charge which the great Shepherd has intrusted to them; and that they, submitting to all the ordinances of Christ, would be themselves the church; incorporated by voluntary and grateful obedience to the laws of Christ, not by constrained obedience to the civil, and, in religious affairs, unauthorized appointments of men. There has obviously been a two-fold ecclesiastical usurpation committed; an usurpation of the people's incorporated title, as well as of Christ's exclusive office; so that, strange to say, the members of the hierarchy are the priests and the church also!

The keys of Peter, under the skilful management of his successors, have been made to open every door, ancient or modern; royal, aristocratical, or plebeian ; patriarchal or pagan; Jewish or Christian; within which any title, dignity, or treasure could be found;— and the spoils from every quarter, and from every age; all diverse, all prodigious things, have been brought together, as was meet, to be laid at the feet of him who is Chrst's vicar upon earth. Could one of the ancient patriarchs revisit the world, he would find that the race to which he belonged is not yet extinct and were he to inquire for the chief patriarch at present existing, he would be directed to his residence at Rome. Could Aaron arise from his grave on mount Hor, and undertake a pilgrimage to the same place, he would find that there is still a high priest, arrayed