The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-03-04


nation. But the elders, when ordained, became
overseers or bishops. This is plainly declared
in reference TO the Ephesian elders II is also
diately after the order TO ordain elders, the
apostle introduces the necessary qualifications
for the office of bishop (Titus /, 8, V. Hence it
follows thaJ only such elders as passes the
Scriptural qualifications for bishop are proper
subjects of ordination TO this office. These
qualifications are, that he must be OF good be-
havior, sober, patient, temperate, Just, holy,
hospitable, apt TO teach, able TO exhort and TO
without the husband of but one wife, not new
convert, not soon angry, not self-willed, not
given TO wine, not brawler, not striker, not
greedy of base gain, good ruler in his own
house, blameless such an elder as here des-
scribed may be ordained, or installed In the
office of bishop or overseer. But 1t has been
seen that there is another Office in the Church
of God, namely, the deacon's office. 1t is true
that the word deacon does not occur in the 9th
of Acts, to which attention has been called, but
the same work there referred to is called the
office of deacon twice. in the Sd chapter of
First Timothy. The Apostle there says-"They
that have used the office of deacon well, puT-
chase to themselves good degree, and great
". l3l. Again, "And let the first be proved; then
let them use the Office of n deacon, being found
blamcless'' ". 10y. The same Apostle also ad-
dresses all the saints in Christ Jesus which are
at Phillppi, with the bishops and deacons (Phil.
!, %. 1t cannot be questioned, therefore, that
the deacon is as strictly an oficer the bishop.
And as ordination is simply instalment in
office. IL follows that, before any man can be
truly Scriptural deacon, he must be inducted
into the Office by ordination, or the imposition
of hands, with fasting aud prayer. This conclu-
sion is fully confirmed by the history of the
selection and appointment OF the seven holy
men in the Church In Jerusalem. Some of the
Grecian brethren murmured because their
widows were neglected. This complaint being
made known to the Apostles, they Immediately
commanded the congregation to select seven
men of honest report, and full OF the Holy
Spirit, whom they might appoint over the
temporal affairs of the church. The selec-
tS@sen Sn wSs eeofs %eG BSoed bsa1s
the Apostles, who when they had prayed. laid
hands on them, and thus formally installed
them in the Office to which the congregation
had elected them. 1t will be observed that these
persons were ordained immediately after their
election, whereas Paul directs Timothy to let
them first be proved then let them use the
office of deacon, being found blameleSs. But
this apparent discrepancy is readily accounted
for by remembering that the inspiration of the
Apostles enabled them todecide at once whether
the men to be ordained were qualified for the
Office or not; while the lack of inspiration in
Timothy forbade his knowing this until their
fitness had been demonstrated. Evangelists of
the present day being uninspired also, should
heed the instruction of the Apostle:to lay hands
suddenly on no man.
BISHOPS ana deacons are the only regular of1-
GERS in the Church of Christ; yet 1T is the duty
of every congregation that can do SO, to send
out one or more men to preach the Gospel and
establish other congregations. Such men are
organs of the Church by which they are sent
OUT and are therefore, in a certain sense, offi-
GERS of such Church. They are usually denomi-
mated Evangelists. Being officers of the Church.
they too are proper subjects of ordination. The
account of the ordination and work of Paul
OF Acts, confirms this position. 1t is only, how
ever, when such persons are sent out by con-
gregation to perform some definite work that
ordination is necessary; for we are told that the
whole congregation OF Jerusalem, except the
Apostles, went everywhere preaching the Word
(Acts will, ~. OF course the preachers were not
ordained. AT least 1t is exceedingly impro-
bable.
III. Who should conduct the ordination cere-
mony? The Ephesian elders were ordained
bishops or overseers by the Holy Spirit. But it
canuot be true that He either tasted, prayed, or
imposed hands. The meaning here is that the
Holy Spirit had required or directed the ordi-
nation. This fact shows that ordination is q
Divine appointment no matter who the agents
may be. The inspired apostles were the agents
were ordained in Jerusalem Certain prophets
and teachers, whether inspired or not cannot
be determined, conducted the ceremony when,
by the direction of the Holy Spirit Paul and
to the Geutiles, and ordain elders in every
church. Timothy was ordained by the laying
on of the hands of the preSbytery or elderShip.
And Titus, an uninspired evangelist, was di-
rected by an inspired apostle to ordain elders in
every city of Crete.
Thus has the Holy Spirit employed as His
agents in ordalning officers for the Church
first, Apostles; second, the Presbytery, consist
ing doubtless of prophets, teachers, and bishops
and, third, uninspired EvangelisJS, Prophets,
and Apostles have ceased. But bishops, evange-
lists, and pastors and teachers remain. By
pastors and teachers understand the Scriptures
to mean the presiding, visiting, and preaching
bishops of congregations. Where there are
bishops, then, in a congregation, they should
conduct the ordination ceremony, the pastor
q congregation has not yet been set in order by
the ordination of elders to the offices of bishop
and deacon, an evangelist should conduct the
ordination ceremony.