Theory of the Eldership [pp. 702-759]

Theory of the Eldership.
the sacred office of the ministry." Gieseler rejects the distinction made by this theory. Mosheim does the same. Dr.
Coleman and Riddle, in their "Antiquities of the Christian
Church," founded upon Augusti and others, declare against
this theory. Selden and Lightfoot, the greatest Hebraists of
modern times, were against it in the Westminster Assembly.
Vitringa, to whom all our knowledge of the synagogue is now
chiefly referred, expresses himself in the most unqualified manner. "I am not," he says, "opposed to lay elders, but contrariwise greatly like them. I will not, however, offend against
the brotherhood, of which I form a part, if I openly declare
that I am able to find no such elders in the apostolical church
of the first age; none such in the church of the age following;
none in the writings of the apostles, or in the records of the
age following, as far as they have been examined by me or
others. This opinion, in which I have long been fully confirmed, I consider it no fault freely to divulge, though contrary
to that of others, and which no other reason or presumption
than the force of truth has compelled me to embrace. And
can any one then dare," he adds, "seriously to assert and to
defend the position that to these lay elders the name of bishop,
or the name of pastor, can be appropriated? And if no one
can so dare, then the question is settled concerning them, since
no other presbyters (or elders) are acknowledged or constituted
in the church of the Apostles, except those who are at the
same time pastors and bishops," &c.* Professor Jamieson, as
referred to above, uses similar language: "I can't find," says
he, "during the first three centuries express mention of these
seniors or ruling elders; for I freely pass from (i. e. abandon)
some words of Tertullian and Origen, which I elsewhere mentione(l as containing them, and so also from what I said of the
Ignatian presbyters being ruling or non-preaching elders."t
The very learned non-conformist writer, Clarkson, of whom
Baxter says he was a man of "extraordinary worth for solid
judgment and acquaintance with the Fathers," &c., coincides
in this judgment, and so do many others.t
* De Vet. Synag. p. 484.
t Jamieson's Cyprianus Isotimus, p. 544.
+t Primitive Episcop. pp. 92, 100, 104, 105. See others referred to in Bib.
Repert. 1843, p. 327.
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