0n Prince Edward Island

at Philippi, and who, moreover, were the only par- ties, it would appear, who either then or at any other time ever entered into the relative composition of that church. These several parties as here speci- fied evidently therefore formed of themselves a per- fect church corporation at that time—a complete Christian Association of local believers. By the expression, “All the Saints,” is evidently meant the ordinary or what we sometimes call the private or lay members of the church; and by the Bishops and Deacons are just as plainly to be understood the local officiating office bearers in that church in con- tradistinction from‘those ordinary members. These office bearers then, are all verbally and definitely and entirely comprehended under just two classes, viz., “Bishops and Deacons,” although it is also quite evident, at the same time, that there was a plurality of these included in each class, or that there existed at the same time, in the same church or congrega— tion, several Bishops and several Deacons who both filled and executed the respective duties of these separate oflices. Now as the church at Philippi was thus officially constituted by the most direct apos- tolic supervision, so, we have every reason to con- clude, were all the other churchespconstructed which were ever planted by the Apostles of Christ. For if this specially recorded example of the primitive church at Philippi has any scriptural significance at all it must extend to all other churches whatever subsequently planted in all places and in all ages of the world. All other churches then, we must pre-

I97