Page:Tracts for the Times Vol 1.djvu/94

Rh "Do you remember any of the passages," I asked him.

"I cannot," he said, "call to mind chapter and verse, but I have with me a little paper of memorandums which I use at the school, and which, if it be not too much trouble, I will thank you to look at,"

The paper was as follows:—for I thought it well to copy what he had written into my pocket memorandum-book.

It appears that Timothy had authority at Ephesus to check false or unedifying Teachers. 1 Tim. i. 3, 4;—to select persons proper to be ordained Bishops, iii. 1–7;—and also Deacons, iii. 8–13.

That he should have particular regard to the Elders who rule well. v. 17.

That he should be cautious of receiving accusations against Elders, v. 19.

That if any [Elders] were convicted it was his duty to reprimand them publicly. v. 20.

That in his decisions he should be strictly impartial. v. 21.

That he should be very cautious on whom he laid his hands. v. 22

That Timothy was in a station, which even the rich and great might respect. vi. 17.

That Timothy had been ordained by St. Paul himself, once, if not twice. 2 Tim. i. 6.

That at his ordination or consecration there was something remarkable in the Sermon. 1 Tim. iv. 14. i. 18.

That he was to commit what he had heard from St. Paul to faithful men, who should be able to pass it on to others. 2 Tim. ii. 2.

That Titus had authority to set in order what was wanting in the Cretan Church; Tit. i. 5: and to ordain Bishops in every city; i. 5, 7.

That he was to be cautious whom he selected for this office, i. 6–9.

That he should rebuke false teachers sharply, i. 13.

That if Titus himself was a pattern of good works and a teacher of truth, the whole Church would gain credit. ii. 7, 8.

That he should rebuke with all authority, ii. 15.

That he should suffer no man to despise him. ii. 15.

That after one or two admonitions he should reject heretical persons. iii. 10.

"Now, Sir, it seems to me evident, from these and others similar passages, that there were certainly in the Church, as far as the Testament History reaches, 3 different ranks or orders of Ministers, one above the other."

"It is plainly so," I said.

"But," said he, "there was one point which rather perplexed me, and I was some time before I could make out such an explanation of it as was satisfactory to myself."

"What was that," I asked.

"Why," said he, "it was this. I considered that any person to whom the Apostles granted apostolical authority, (Timothy, for instance,) was from that time higher than a Presbyter or Bishop, and yet could not properly be called an Apostle. What then could he be called? I at last remembered a place in Bishop