BISHOP Over all the saints, as the Methodist bishop is over all the Methodists. As the Methodist ministers are under the command of the bishop, to preach what he says, and where he savs; so the ministers of Christ are bound to preach what he commands, when, and where he says, and the people are bound to hear and obey what Christ says by his ministers, who are bishops under him.

Enquirer.---If this is the case, what need is there of these bishops over other ministers ?

Christian.---There is no need of them, they are the cause of divisions and contentions, among the saints, because, instead of being where Christ's ministers ought to be, they have, and are claiming that power, which belongs only to Christ; and these forms of government will finally come to nothing, when ministers and all believers are willing to be where and what Christ commands them to be.

Enquirer.-What is the difference between the words dipping, pouring, and sprinkling in the Greek language.

Christian. The word which dipping come from is Baptizontes. Pouring comes from the word, Proschusin. Sprinkling comes from the word, Rantizosa. All the learned know that these three words are used to express these three different actions, dipping, pouring, and sprinkling. Those who contradict this, are either ignorant of the original words, or not men of truth.

Enquirer.-Is there any such word as Trinity mentioned in the New Testa

ment?

Christian.-No. It is an unscriptural word, invented to express something not mentioned in the word of God. This, with the words sacrament, depravity, morality, chaplain, doctor of divinity, reverend, parson, divine, &c. ought to be laid aside by the ministers of Christ, and all his followers, as unwholesome words, and not the words of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Enquirer.-I wish you to state to me the New Testament form of ordaining an elder, to the work of the ministry.

Christian.-This I will do in the following particulars: 1. The church agree

that Christ has called him to the work. -2. In a church meeting the elder, or elders, in behalf of the church, lay their hands on him and pray, according to Acts xiii. 3. "And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away."-3. The elders give the hands of fellowship; if there is only one elder he gives the handof fellowship; according to Gal. ii. 9, "And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right HANDS of fellowship, that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision." This is the most we can find concerning ordaining elders in the New Testament. All more than this belongs to the commandments and doctrines of men, which are all to perish in the using.

am fully satisfied concerning these things, which you have mentioned, and while I compare them with human doctrines, rules, and practices, it appears to me that the difference must be very great; and I now

E

wish you to contrast the ancient things in the new testament, concerning ministers, baptism, and churches, that all may see the difference.

Christian.-This I am ready to do, and this shall be a second part of your enquiry.

AGE OF ENQUIRY.

PART II.

4

ANCIENT AND MODERN THINGS CONTRASTED.

1. Concerning Ministers-2. Concerning Baptism-3. Concerning building Churches.

Ancient things as they stand in the New Testament. Modern things as they are practised in the present day among different denominations.

1. ANCIENT AND MODERN THINGS CONCERNING MINISTERS.

ANCIENT.

And how shall they preach, except they be sent ? Rom. x. 15.

ACCORDING to the Apostle's declaration in this chapter, a man must be sent of Christ to preach his gospel. The question in the text supposes, that a man cannot preach who is not sent of God for that purpose. A man who is sent of God is one who loves him; a man who loves God is born of God; every natural man is a hater of God,