Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1853-06-25

culture Of multrudes brought into the church.
there were frequent divisions and schisms 10 the
body--largely through the intrigues and way
wardness of ambitious presbyters, struggling for
the ascendency, all being equal in authority
Irregularities and improprietes in ordinations and
other functions OF the ministerial Office we're not
unfrequent. by which improper persons were ad-
mitted to Office and authority in the church
Various persons and parties differing in opinion
and consequently in practice, we're brought into
collision with each other, BY which divisions
formed and the unity of the church endangered"
Here is the admission that the government by
presbyters wholly inadequate; an acknowledg-
cd failure, and the reason assigned IS that the
presbyters were all of equal authority. The fruits
of tits inadequacy, of this failure of presbyter
government were irregularities and improprieties
in ordinations, and other functions Of the minis
teral office, and divisions and schisms which
threatened the unity of the church. What was to
BE- done in this crisis? How were these rregu-
lares and impropreties in ordinations to be avoid
ed how were these divisions and schSms to be
healed and prevented? How was this preshyter
chaos to be reduced to order? Would you be-
lieve it reader? The remedy was found in the
adoption of that dreadful dogma, that poison
breathing sirocco; to wit Eplscopacy. Nothing
short of government by bishops could answer
The church just out of the hands of Christ and
his apostles, framed by divine wisdom and inspi-
ration but all rcketty in its constitution, its joints
weak and limbs feeble, unable to stand erect AMI
in infancy lettering to its fall when, 10 man
comes TO the rescue. Bishops are elected and
gives perpetuity to the divine establishment
Divine foresight is convicted of cosus oniSsus;
infinite wisdom for the first time in the whole range
of its creations is at fault for the want of adapta
ton of the means to the end to be obtained. A
flaw is left in the work which threatens the fab
rick Wonderful as it may be, however, man, by
the force of his own intellect aided by experience
supplied the casus Omissus; patched up the flaw
divine wisdom yielded the palm t. human, and
the ambitious presbyterS yielded so ready calm
and quiet an obedience to their respective bishops
that history took no note OF the time, the
place, nor the how of this remarkable change =
Episcopos would find himself in dilemma were
he to attempt to decide between the relative mer-
its of the divine and human wisdom displayed in
the conception, formation and perfection of the
church with its compliment of bishop, priest and
deacon. If the human part of the structure was
the terrible dogma" depicted by Episcopos; a
shadow spreading, poison bearing sirocco; yet the
divine institution under the nurture of the gifted
and lovely. but discordant and ambitious presby-
tiers was about to expire, and the embryo church
ushered in for the salvation of the world, took re-
! fuge in the human invention. Episcopos may be
a voluble talker; if he is, he will do well TO con-
! fine himself to defamation. Inconsistencies in
morals and facts, may escape the attention of a
languid audience, but pen in the hands of Episco-
pos is fatal to the cause which he espouses-
What could such defender of christianity do in
the hands of Gibbon He would betray or be
despoiled of his charge without the poor conside-
ration OF the thirty pieces of silver. LAlC.