Having disposed of the see of Jerusalem, which had been gratuitously conferred on James, we proceed to the argument in favour of Diocesan Episcopacy, from the epistles addressed, in the book of the Revelation, to the seven churches of Asia. We give it in the words of Cyprian. And as it may possibly amuse the reader, while it convinces him that we were correct in saying that Archbishop Potter is one of the real authors under the signatures of Cyprian, &c. we shall put his Grace of Canterbury side by side with our Albany -friend. POTTER. CYPRIAN. "In the three first chapters of the Revelations of St. John, we find absolute demonstration of the existence of the Episcopal dignity and authority, at the time in which these chapters, St. John gives us a description of the seven Bishops, who superintended "St. John, in the three this work was written. In first chapters of his Revelation, has given us a lively description of seven bishops who presided in the seven the interests of the church in principal cities of the pro-con- the seven-principal cities in sular Asia. Our Lord is there the Pro-Consular Asia. Our introduced, sending seven Lord is represented as sending epistles to the seven churches seven Epistles to the seven of these cities, directed to the churches of these cities, diseven angels of the churches, rected to the seven angels of whom he calls the seven stars the churches, whom he calls in his right hand. Now if it the "seven stars in his right appears that the seven angels hand." From all the circum POTTER. CYPRIAN. were so many single persons stances that are mentioned, it invested with supreme autho- undeniably appears that these rity in the seven churches, seven angels were so many there can be no reason to single persons, invested with doubt, whether they were the supreme authority in the bishops of these churches ; a churches; that is to say, they bishop being nothing else but were the bishops of those one who has chief authority churches. in the church. these 66 This is considerations. The "I say it manifestly ap"Let us examine in the pears, that these seven angels first place, whether the seven of the churches, whom the angels were so many single Lord calls the seven stars" persons? And first of all, it in his right hand, were single is manifest they were not the persons. They were not the. whole church or collective whole church or collective body of Christians in their body of Christians. several cities; because the proved incontestably from churches are represented by seven candlesticks, which are whole Churches, or collective all along distinguished from body of Christians, are reprethe seven stars, which are emsented by 66 seven candleblems of the angels. Neither sticks," which are distinguishwere they any select numbered from the " seven stars," or body of men: For they are that are emblems of the Anconstantly mentioned as sin-gels, the Bishops. They are gle persons; the angel of the constantly mentioned in the church of Ephesus, the angel singular number. so the rest." sus" "The An of the church of Smyrna, and gel of the Church of Ephe"the Angel of the Church of Smyrna," and so of the rest. Accordingly, both he and And in the epistle to Thyatira all the rest are constantly ad- it is said, "I know thy works." dressed to in the singular "I have a few things against number ; I know thy works, thee." "Remember how thou I have a few things against hast heard." "Thou hast thee, remember how thou hast kept the word of my pa POTTER. CYPRIAN. heard, thou hast kept the word tience." This is the style of my patience, and so in the rest, where our Lord speaks to them in particular: But when what he writes equally concerns the people, he changes his style, and speaks in the plural: The devil shall cast some of you into prison. Thou hast not denied my faith when Antipas my faithful martyr was slain among you. I will reward every one of you according to your works. That which ye have, hold fast till I come. Which variation of the number, is a plain argument that some parts of these Epistles relate to the whole churches, and others only to the persons of the angels." But what places this subject beyond all reasonable doubt is this circumstance: The titles of Angels and stars are constantly applied in the book of Revelation to single men, and never to a society or number of men. Our Lord is called the "But there is one thing yet behind, which will put this `matter beyond dispute: namely, that the titles of angels and stars are constantly applied in this book of Revelation to single men: Our Lord is called the Morning Star, and the Sun, and the apostles are call-"morning star and the sun," ed twelve stars, and twelve an- and the twelve Apostles are gels; but there is not one ex- called "twelve stars," and ample where these titles are "twelve Angels." given to any society or number of men. So that if we will allow the divine author of this book to speak in this place, as he does in all others, the angels It is evident, therefore, that the seven stars or Angels in the book of Revelation, are single persons. POTTER. CYPRIAN. of the seven churches can be none but single persons. That these persons possessed supreme authority in the Churches, is also demonstra "The next thing to be made out is, that these single persons were men of chief authority in their several churches.ted from these considerations. And we might safely conclude they were so, though we had no other proof of it, because our Lord has directed to them the Epistles, which he designed These Epistles are addressed for the use of their churches. to them alone. The Churches are called candlesticks, and they the stars which give light to the candlesticks. The seven angels are praised for all the good which they had done, and blamed for all the evil which happened in the Churches. The Angel of "They are praised for all the good, and blamed for all the evil which happened in their churches. The angel of Ephesus is commended, because he could not bear them that were Ephesus is commended beevil, and had tried those who | cause “he could not bear them called themselves Apostles, and that were evil, and had tried were not so; which seems to those who called themselves imply, that he had judicially Apostles, and were not so," convicted them to be impostors. which seems to imply that he And the angel of Pergamos had convicted them of imposis reproved for having them ture. The Angel of Pergawho hold the doctrine of Ba-mos is reproved for having laam; that is, the Nicolaitans, them "who hold the doctrine who allowed themselves to of Balaam, and he is severely POTTER. CYPRIAN. commit fornication, and to eat threatened unless he repentthings sacrificed to idols; and ed." This shows that he poshe is severely threatened, un- sessed authority to correct less he repented: which shows these disorders, or he could he had authority to correct not justly be menaced with these disorders, otherwise he punishment for permitting could not justly have been them. The Angel of Thyatira punished for them. The same also is blamed for suffering may be said of the angel of" Jezebel," who called herself Thyatira, who is blamed for a prophetess, to teach and sesuffering Jezebel, who called duce the people. And the Anherself a prophetess, to teach gel of Sardis is commanded and seduce the people. 66 And to be watchful, and to the angel of Sardis is com- strengthen those who are ready manded to be watchful, and to to die," otherwise our Lord strengthen those who are ready threatens to come on him " as to die; otherwise our Lord a thief; at an hour which he threatens to come on him, as a should not know." thief, at an hour which he should not know." The writers under review, having a great contempt for all reasoning from names, promised to intrench themselves within scriptural facts. One of their facts they find in the history of the "stars" or "angels" of the seven churches. Yet if the reader shall attentively inspect their argument, which we have placed before him in its full strength, he will perceive that it rests entirely upon their interpretation of two names. These are "angel" and "star:" which, in the symbolical language of the scripture, are as really names of office, as bishop, presbyter, deacon, are in its alphabetical or common language. The aspect of Vol. III. 18 ( |