The True Test of an Apostolical Ministry [pp. 292-306]

True Test of an Apostolzeal Ministry.
earnest search for truth to talk much of its originality; it was
too intent on getting a strong and sure foundation to be ever
eulogizing its own work, or boasting of its superiority to all
others.
ART. V.-The True Test of an Apostolcal Ministry.
THE Apostles governed the primitive Church, not in dioceses
or fixed districts, but with an ambulatory and convenient jurisdiction. The power of each extended to the whole. Still, in
the exercise of this extraordinary power, they appear to have
had some regard to a division of labour. Paul expresses his
unwillingness to interfere with other men's labours, and his
earnest wish to preach the gospel where it had not yet been
heard. (Rom. xv. 20, 21.) In accordance with this method
was the general distribution of the Jews and Gentiles between
Paul and Peter. (Gal. ii. 7.)
When a church was founded by an Apostle, he seems to have
sustained a peculiar relation to it afterwards, as its spiritual
father, and as such bound still in some degree to watch over it,
and for that purpose to keep up a correspondence with it by per sonal visits, or by messengers or letters. Among the churches,
which appear to have been organized by Paul in some of his mis sion journeys, were the churches of Galatia. We know that
his practice was to ordain elders in every city where he left a
church. (Acts xiv. 23, Tit. i. 5.) To these he committed the
government and instruction of the infant churches, when he
turned himself to other fields of labour or of suffering. That
these successors would in every case be faithful and successful
substitutes for apostolic care, was not to be expected. Nor is
it surprising that in some instances abuses and corruptions, both
of doctrine and of practice, should have soon sprung up. A
remarkable example of abuse in practice is afforded by the case
of the Corinthian church with respect to the communion. (1 Cor.
xi. 20-34.) A no less remarkable example of doctrinal declen sion is afforded by the case of the Galatians. After Paul's
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