One of the elders was an overseer, like the “Speaker” in a legislative assembly. But all these were chosen by the people, and as much of the people after their choice as before. There was no clergy and no laity; all were sons of God, recipients of inspiration from him. The Holy Ghost fell upon all, the same in kind, only divine in degree and mode of manifestation. The wish of Moses was complied with, and God put his spirit upon each of them; the prediction of Joel was fulfilled, and their sons and their daughters prophesied; the word of Jeremiah had come to pass, and God put his Law in their inward parts, and wrote it on their heart, and they all knew the Lord from the least to the greatest. They were “anointed of God,” and “knew all things;” they “needed not that any man should teach them.” Christ and God were in all holy hearts. The overseer, or bishop, claimed no power over the people; he was only first among his peers; the greatest only because the servant of all. Even Apollos, Cephas, Paul, who were they but servants, through whom others believed? The bishop had no authority to bind and loose in heaven or earth; no right to enforce a doctrine. He was not the standard of faith; that was “the Mind of the Lord,” which He would reveal to all who sought it. There was no monopoly of teaching on the part of the elders. A bishop, says the author of the Epistle to Timothy,“must be able to teach,” not the only teacher, not necessarily a preacher at all; but a minister of silence as well as speech. Inspiration was free to all men. “Quench not the Spirit;” “prove all things;” “hold fast what is good;” “covet earnestly the best gifts,”—these were the watchwords. Under Fetichism, all could consult their God, and be inspired; miracles took place continually. Under Polytheism, only a few could come to God at first hand; they alone were inspired, and miracles were rare. Under Christian Monotheism, God dwelt in all faithful hearts; old covenants and priesthoods were done away, and so all were inspired.[1]
- ↑ On the state of the early Church, and the Bishops, Elders, and Deacons, which is still a matter of controversy, see Campbell, Lectures on Ecc. Hist., Lec. I.-XIII.; Gieseler, ubi sup. § 29; Mosheim, ubi sup. Book I. Art. II. chap. ii.; Neander, Allg. Geschichte der Christlichen Religion, Hamb. 1835, Vol. I. Part I. chap. ii.; Gibbon, Chap. XV.; Schleiermacher, Geschichte der Christlichen Kirche, Berlin, 1840, p. 86, et seq. Among the modern writers Mil-
