108 THE DECLINE AND FALL CHAP, 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 incsbyters guided each infant congregation with equal authority, and with united counsels . Institution But the most perfect equality of freedom requires alpre'li^ the directing hand of a superior magistrate; and the dents of the order of public deliberations soon introduces the office presbyters, of a president, invested at least with the authority of collecting the sentiments, and of executing the resolu- tions, of the assembly. A regard for the public tran- quillity, which would so frequently have been inter- rupted by annual or by occasional elections, induced the primitive christians to constitute an honourable and perpetual magistracy, and to choose one of the wisest and most holy among their presbyters to exe- cute, during his hfe, the duties of their ecclesiastical governor. It was under these circumstances that the lofty title of bishop began to raise itself above the humble appellation of presbyter; and while the latter remained the most natural distinction for the members of every christian senate, the former was appropriated to the dignity of its new president '. The advantages of this episcopal form of government, which appears to have been introduced before the end of the first cen- tury % were so obvious, and so important for the future 1 Hooker's Ecclesiastical Polity, 1. vii. f See Jerome adXitum, c i. and Epistol. 85. (in the Benedictine edition, 101 .) and the elaborate apology of Blondel, pro sententia Hieronymi. The ancient state, as it is described by Jerome, of the bishop and presbyters of Alexandria, receives a remarkable confirmation from the patriarch Eutychius (Annal. torn. i. p. 330. vers. Pocock ;) whose testimony I know not how to reject, in spite of all the objections of the learned Pearson, in his Viudi- cia3 Ignatianai, part i. c. 11.
- See the introduction to the Apocalypse. Bishops, under the name of
angels, were already instituted in seven cities of Asia. And yet the epistle of Clemens (which is probably of as ancient a date) does not lead us to dis- cover any traces of episcopacy either at Corinth or Rome.
