Theory of the Eldership [pp. 702-759]

Theory of the Eldership.
3. Before passing to the bearing of this theory on the eldership, we would press upon our readers its disastrous effect in
seriously undermining an argument for the truth of Christianity,
which may be regarded as a key-stone in the arch, or a cornerstone in the building. An order of ministers, known as presbyters and bishops, has always existed, from the times of the
apostles continuously to this day.
"Now," as Archbishop Whateley puts the argument, "if a
century ago, or ten centuries ago, or at any other time, a
number of men had arisen, claiming to be the immediate successors (as above described) of persons holding this office, when,
in fact, no such order of men had ever been heard of, such a
silly pretension would have been immediately exposed and
derided. There must always, therefore, have existed such an
order of men, from the time of those apostles, who professed to
be eye-witnesses of the resurrection, and to work sensible public
miracles in proof of their divine commission. And consequently,
the Christian ministry is a standing monument to attest the
public proclamation of those miraculous events at the very time
when they are said to have occurred. Now at that time there
must have been great numbers of persons able and willing to
expose the imposture, had there been any.
"And you are to observe, that this argument for the truth of
the sacred history is quite independent of any particular mode
of appointing Christian ministers. If, for instance, these had
been always elected by the people, and had at once entered on
their office, without any ordination by other ministers, still, if
they were but appointed (in whatever mode) as immediate successors of persons holding the same office, the argument is the
same. That mode, indeed, of admitting men into the ministry,
which was practised by the apostles, has in fact been retained
in all ages of Christianity. But the argument we have been
now considering is quite independent of this. It turns entirely
on the mere fact of the constant existence of a certain order of
men."
Now if it is true-as this theory, in its various forms,
teaches-that the terms presbyter and bishop, by which this
order of ministers is known to have always existed, and to have
perpetuated itself, "are not applicable," as Dr. Thornwell
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