Theory of the Eldership [pp. 702-759]

1860.] Destructive Tendencies of this Theory.
leaders, presidents, pastors and teachers, angels, ambassadors,
heralds, &c.) Therefore, presbyters are the only permanent
ministerial successors of the apostles.
This argument, around which all the research and reasoning
of the many champions of presbytery are gathered, requires
two points to be established. It is necessary first to prove
that all these terms are used for one office and order-that is,
for the PRESBYTER; and secondly, that the term presbyter
refers unequivocally to ministers. For when prelatists are
compelled to admit the overwhelming demonstration of this
fact, they save themselves by appealing to "the miserable
sophistry of names." "Presbuteros-i. e., presbyter," argued
Dr. Mason's prelatical opponents, "signifies an elder man,
whence alderman. By this new species of logic, it might be
proved that the apostles were aldermen, and aldermen apostles." (JIlason's Works, vol. ii. p. 40.) This is a standing
Romish argument. "To translate presbyter by elder," say
they, "is as wise and reasonable as if a man should translate
major Londini, greater of London, and not mayor; and Universitas Oxoniensis the generality, and not the University of
Oxford.*
Now, in his unanswerable and triumphant argument, Dr.
Mason establishes the position that "the officers of the church
are distributed, without a single exception, into the two general classes of presbyters or bishops, and deacons;" that these
must mean something official and appropriate, and fixed; that
they are particular, and not general, since it is impossible to
believe that such an immense society should "be destitute of
names by which the officers might be correctly known, so that
when an official term is mentioned, no ingenuity could guess
whether an officer inspired or uninspired, ordinary or extraordinary, highest or lowest, in the church was intended."
He proceeds to show from Acts xv. that apostles and presbyters are specific terms of office, and from the regular ordination of presbyters in every city, and qualifications given
in particular instructions, that these are not general terms of
office, from which a prelate as well as a presbyter might be
* See in Fulke's Defence, pp. 267, 268.
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