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

Importance of a Test.
subversive of the gospel, as not a mere misfortune, but a grievous fault, dangerous to themselves, injurious to the Church, dishonourable to Christ, and offensive to God.
All this implies, that the error, into which they had fallen,
might have been avoided. But in what way? They might well
have asked, how could we have foreseen the error or unfaithfulness of those, who were placed over us as spiritual guides?
Would you have us to withdraw our confidence entirely from
public teachers, and rely exclusively upon our private judgments? This would have been wholly at variance with Paul's
instructions, who abounds in exhortations to obedience and
docility. In no way then could the offence have been avoided.
but by carefully distinguishing between the true and false, between the messenger of God and the unauthorized intruder
between the faithful shepherd and the hireling, the thief and the
robber, or the wolf in sheep's clothing; in short, by the rigid
application of a test to the pretensions of all public teachers,
even of such as were possessed of the most regular external call
to rule the Church and teach the people.
And now the interesting question meets us, What shall this
test be? This is a question not of temporary but perpetual interest; one which, far from having lost its original importance, is
as violently agitated now as ever. There never was a stronger
disposition than at present to lay down rules for distinguishing
a true church and a valid ministry from counterfeits. Even
those, who refuse to take a part in the invention of these tests.
cannot expect to be exempted from their application. If we
will not try ot'iers, we must be tried ourselves. It is our interest, therefore, no less than our duty, to discover, if we can,
what test of ministerial authority is warranted by Scripture,
and by primitive usage. And in no way can this be more easily
and certainly effected, than by duly considering the language
used by the Apostle Paul, in a case which required the application of precisely such a test as that in question.
We have seen that he represents the error, into which the
Galatians had been led, as a most serious one, both in itself
and in its necessary consequences, and at the same time, as one
which might with proper care, have been avoided. But as
they had been seduced by erroneous teachers, the only way in
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