American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1824-11-26

relations to each other. " Be not ye called Rabbi
or master, or Doctor, for one is your Master, eve
Christ " He is the only being who, by way OF EN-
lnence or distinction, sustsins the relation OF Rabbi
or Master, or teacher of the Church. The othe
reason is founded on the parity Of Chrisl's arbas
sailors =" and ye all are brethren" The assump
ton appropriation OF titles houours or authority
IN the church, which may tend directly TO break il
upon the iraterna equality OF the ministers of tn
gospel, conrsyenes the letter and spirit of this in
IJuDctIon-And this is not the only instance in which
the Lord Jesus has put his hand upon this aspiring
temper. When the disciples, on a certain occasion
Icontended for distinction, he directed them TO leave
his contes, TO the kings and rulers of the earth
i" We shall not be SO, but he that is greatest among
lyou lei hm be as the younger and he hat is Chief
|ss he that doth serve'' Ambition is the same prin
lcipe throughout the universe-whether in " Luci
ter, son OF the morning"--or in one Of the sons o
Adam-whether covered Though not conceslec) BY
the royal purple or the humber garb of The eccle
sastc. Incentives to ambition ought not to be mul
Iuplled and presented by the church Of Christ
! This honorary distinction is productive of prsci
cal mischief.-rhe title and relation Of brother il
lost amidst the Fictitious distinctions of the world
and the kingdom Of Christ, robbed Of its heavenly
character, becomes kingdom OF secular titles anc
bonours. When brethren meet under the present
system, 1t is with the cold and formal sslulation oil
/
honors one OF another, they forget that they are al
brethren, and fellow .labourers in the Kingdom o
God. 1 he distinctions which are thus recognised
on the terms oil ordinary salutaion, are calculated
10 cherish the passions oil ambition on the one hand
and OF envy on the other.
Had the primitive church commence in this way,
the world would never have been evangelical. Had
they created those honorary distinctions which now
|exst in the church, the enemies OF the gospel
W h.y. lOfs y ,Lot. ,c
|uanity as new scheme tor the grathe alton Of am
nnon, and Tor the promotion Of self aggrandzement
and the titles Of Doctor Psul and Doctor Peter
would have blasted The budring hopes oi the king
dom OF Christ. X was not ill the church became
welded TO the state in the Roman empli c. that world
iy distinctions were introduced and became fashion
able among he ministers of Christ Al this period
the haven began 10 work which produced all that
monstrous assumption oi bonours and Of power
which obtained anon; the Catholic priesthood and
a portion OF The same spirit may be found in every
section Of the Christian church al the present day
Instead OF the simplicity Of the gospe-a feeling
that we are brethren engaged IN the same CAUSE
there is too much strife who shall be accounted
ne greatest" That denomination to which have |
the happiness 10 belong, possesses its full shar oil
his spirit. II is to he devnuty hoped, that the time
will never When it shall be said Of The minis !
ers OF Christ, il is often said, with what truth or
Justice will not attempt TO decide, of those who
1us,e in the political world that the grea, contes,
s for "ihe loaves and fishes the honours, and
profits Of advancement For one, | frankly &C /
know ledge, my soul is sick oil this aping Of The
world.
But Ihis title is liable to additional animadverson
rom the manner in which it is often conferred.--l
The thing is wrong, and no management could i'm
oalt to 1t a Christian character. Nothing is mure
common than for the mere stripping TO have D. d
appended TO his name and when the man aud his
lite are put together, the association reminds one
ot young David, a'rayed in the armour of king Saul
1T ia rather cumbersome TO the lad. There are
Ill sorts OF men in the ministry, aud all so,ts oil col
eges TO give them as occasion may requiie, a lite
ray or theological puG. 1t frequently happens, al
ne present day, that man, mean one that pas
,es lor clergyman, il dubbed Doctor of Divinity
who has about as much generation Tor the bible and
rs peculiar doctrines, as Was cherished by David
Hume or Thomas Paine. This distinction IS often
reserved Tor the man OF mere classical attainments
Or OF ehned literary taste. DIR Witherspuon hat
hit the matter very we'll in his " History OF Cor
poration OF Servants |, may be necessary for
he information OF those who have not read The wo
IN question, Just 10 observe, that il is an allegory in
ended to represent the Ministers Of the gospel. He
mentions various ways 10 which these servants en-
leavour to CRAFTY the ambition and ayarice of one
another; and among other things title was invent.
81, colied Master OF Service, that is, Doctor oil
Divinity; which they said would serve to distin-
5ulsh illustrlous merit, and cause happy emuIa.
or. " The directors OF the schools or places OF
exercise were appointed to bestow it according to
he skill and proficiency of the candidates. Immed-
itey applications from all quarters aud as
iealt about very literally, and, if possible, more alb
'u'dly than the salaries had been before. There
was hardly instance of its being bestowed for zeal
inowledse or useful industry but for some whim
ical qualification oil different kind II man had
invented new dance OF song, or collected whole
'arrel of sailed butterflies IN ore summer, or made
gold chain Tor binding flea to post he was in
'anlly created MASTER OF SERVICE This was
written before the Rev gentleman had received his