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A.OTS, 2C-V-I, 4-5-

**As they went through the Cities^ they delivered them the de*
er^esfor to keep, that were ordained of the Apostles and Elders
which were at Jerusalem. And so were the Churches established
in the faith and increased in number daily,"

This passage may be illustrated by the previous chapter in
which is given an account of the first Synod of the Christian
Church. Disputes had arisen at Antioch respecting obser-
vance of the Mosaic ceremonial law. Christians who had been
brought up Jews insisted that the law of Moses was still
binding upon all, even upon Christians of Gentile birth who
had never belonged to the Jewish church. Paul and Barn-
abas were sent to Jerusalem to represent the matter at a
Council of the Apostles and Elders, held about 20 years after
the Ascension. The subject was formally discussed, and after
much debate St. James, who, appears to have presided, sum-
med up the conclusion and gave the sentence, which was put
in writing as the "decrees of the Apostles and Elders." The
purport being that th« Gentiles who were "turned to God"
need not be under the bondage of Jewish ceremonial, a few
points excepted; and directions were given to meet sotae
special moral dangers. These decrees, and perhaps others,
we read in my text, St. Paul and his companions delivered
afterwards to the cities of Asia, "and so were the churches
established in the faith and increased in number daily."

The part taken by the laitj"^ In these decrees was apparently
that of consenting, approving, and furthering what had been
done, "then pleased it the Apostles and Elders with t^e
whole church."

"The Apostles and Elders, or Presbyters, as the original
word for Elder is, which we have shortened into Priest, re-
presented the permanent ministerial body of the Kingdom or
Church of Christ. There was a third Order, that of Deacons,
whose office was also spiritual although employed in dispens-
ing the charity of the church. * The ordaining and chief

• Acts, Tl, 6-6., Phil,, i, 1., I Tim., iii, 8-13.

I '

157174

11..

ruling power was in tlio Apostles, who, towards the close of
their ministry selected Presbyters to whom they committed
this chief authority, (not their extraordinary gifts), as we
learn from the Epistles of St. Paul to Timothy and Titus. *
The word ^tsAqp. episcopos, meaning an overseer, was during
the Apostles' time applied to the Presbyters or Elders,
but atterwards it was confined to those who suc-
cceeded the Apostles in the government of the Church.
Before the close of the first century after their death this
Episcopal form of church order was found iraiversally estab-
lished. Early christian writers state that the Apostles es-
tablished Episcopacy, and lists are given by them ot Bishops
succeeding one another from Apostolic times. | With the
exception of St. James, the Apostles appear to have gone
about at large, but in the first age the system afterwards
called Diocesan which limits to a particular district the Bish-
,pp'8 sphere, was fully established and has been the rule ever
. J amce, the Kingdoms of this world being as it were thus map-
.. ped out to become the Kingdom of Our Lord, and of His
Christ. § Particular care was taken in transmitting the
ministerial authority, and b^ the Apostolical Constitutions **
which represents the discipline of the chuich in the second
P^ntury three Bishops were required for the consecratlou of
., one to the Episcopal order. The Orders of the Anglican
; Church are thus derived. The teachings of the Church of
JBngland upon this point, in the Preface to the Ordination
Services, is as follows: —

, " It is evident unto all men diligently reading the Holy
[Scriptures and ancient authors, tnat from the Apostles'
time there have been these orders of ministers in Christ's
Church: Bishops, Priests and Deacons."

Under this system in all ages' of the Church have Synods
beet! held for the furtherance of tl e Gospel, the settling of
Religious questions, and the order and discipline of the
Church. The larger Synods have been called Councils.
These have consisted of the Bishops and Clergy ot many
Dioceses. The four most celebrated were those of Nice, A.

Tim., iii, 1-14., r. I7-19-20'22., 2 Tin.^ ii, 2.

* 1 Tim., i. 3., 1
Titvi, i, 5;, iii, 10.

. tlrtDMiu, A. D., 180. Hegeiippnt, A. D., 163. Tertallian, A. D.,200.
JfiMtbioa, A. D., 316, gives the Bucoession of Bishops in Jerasklem, Aoti-
oojb, Rome. Alexandria, all from Apostles, aad iotimateb tbe same conld b«
tra<!«d ia all Oliarohes. Prof. Blunt's Cbfistian Church, p 85, 88.

'i ;|iiR»T.,Xi, 15.

- •» A work wiiten abont 250, A. D., within, that is, 150 years after the
death of the last Apostle. Beveridge in Oanones Apostolicos. Works Tol. zii,
p XXX, Coanoil of Nicea, A. D., 325, reqaired three at least.

e close of
ommitted
8), as we

Titus. *
'as during
tr Elders,
7ho suc-

Church.
death this
ally eatab-
postles es-
)t Bishops
With the
have gone
ifterwards
t the Bish-
) rule ever

thus map-
md of His
litting the
titutions **
the second
ecratiou of
e Anglican
Church of
Ordination

J the Holy

Apostles'

in Christ's

ive Synods
settling of
ine of the
i Councils.
Ij ot many
of Kice, A.

ID, A. D.,200.
a8»Iem, Aotl-
same conld b«
, 88.

fear* after tha
YorkBTol. xii,

ill.

D., 325, Constantinople, A. 'D., 881, Enhesus, A. D., 431,
and Chalcedon, A. D., 451. At these the doctrines of our
creeds were settled, and the Reformed Church of England
recognizes their authority as having been accepted by the
undivided Church and as representing the Christianity of
those early ages before the truth had been overlaid and ad-
ded to by the corruptions of later days. Those early ages
were not, however, free from violent controversy, but it has
been justly remarked that "sad as weie such distractions,
yet by fighting out those diftcrences, instead of attempting
to stifle them by compromise, the church gained a fixed
and deflniie form of sound words, which was of the greatest
value, and even necessity, for the preservation of her faith
through the following ages of ignorance." *

The Provincial or General Synods are composed of repre-
sentatives from a Confederation of Dioceses within a limited
area, such are the two Provinces of Canterbury and York
composed of Bishops and Clergy, from whose deliberations
came our 89 articles and the revised Prayer Book, the Laity
consenting in England through the Parliament.

There is a Provincial Synod of six Dioceses in Canada,
also in New Zealand, Australia, and the Cape.

The Diocesan Synod is that of a single Diocese coBBisting
of the Bishop, Clergy and Laity.

My brethren we are about to follow the example of the
Church from the beginning, and in the same mode, by
organizing here a Diocesan Synod. This is a subject so
closely connected with the spread ofthe Gospel ani the in-
terests of religion that our thoughts may well be directed to
it in the house of God, and I pray that the Holy Spirit may
be with us inclining and enabling us to will and to do only
what is right.

The subject may be considered as to the Constitution, the
Objects and the good Results to be expected from the estab-
lishment of a Synod.

1. — The Constitution. — Synods of the Church of England
in all the Colonial Provinces are composed of three parties;
the Bishop, the Clergy, and the Laity by representation.

The two former are the appointed rulers, pastors and
teachers of the flock, holding the Divine Commission of the
Ministry of Reconciliation, ofthe "Word and Sacratuents. f
, The feishop at his consecration to the Episcopal Order has
received, in addition to what he has in common. with the
Presbyters, the power of Ordaining and the change of spirit-

* Canon Robertson's Church History, vol i, 197.
f Heb., xiii, 17-24.

ili

il^

tiftl Qovemment and Pastoral care over the wliolo Dioceao,
including a Judicial authority. * It is his office to "set in .
order the things that are wanting." t

The Diocese is a portion of the flock of Christ committed
to the charge of the Bishop, as Chief Pastor, by those in au-
thority who consecrate him to the office. The Parish is
also a portion of the flock of Christ committed to the charge
of a Presbyter by the Bishop. Clergy and Laity may elect
a Presbyter to be their Bishop, bait cannot confer the Epis-
copal office and authority upon him. Parishoners may elect
their clergyman, but cannot confer upon him his appoint-
ment to the Spiritual charge — Spiritual authority never
comes from below, but from above.

In giving this brief sketch of the constitution of the Christ-
ian ministry, and particulars of Synod?, I am not oflering
my own opinion, but describing facts of history and exist-
ing organizations to aflbrd information. A minister of
Christ m speaking of his own office is liable to appear self-
exalting, but in a subject like this there is no choice, and
he must, humbly I hope, but faithfully, state the rules and
principles of the Church.

A first step in organization of a Synod is to settle the
fundamental provisions as a basis of agreement between the
parties. Also a declaration of principles is agreed upon and
accepted by all and each. The following is an example of
such a declaration as adapted in New Zealand: —

"This branch of the Church of England in N. Z., doth liold
and maintain the doctrine and sacraments of Christ as the
Lord hath commanded in His Holy Word, and as the
Church of England hath received and explained the same
in the book of Common Prayer, in the form and manner of
making, ordaining and consecrating Bishops, Priests and
Deacons, and in the 39 articles of religion. And the Synod
hereinafter constituted for the government of tnis branch of
the said Chnrch shall alsohold and maintain the said doctrine
and sacraments of Christ, and shall have no power to make
any alteration in the authorized version of the Holy Scrip-
ture, or in the above named Formularies of the Church." :

I only give this as a specimen. You will observe a lead-
ing feature is the close adherance to the principles of the |
Mother Church, to which each and ail are expected to sub-i
•cribe.

The binding principle is a contract made by the three!
' parties,, the Laity representing their congregations, to bej

* See in Prayer Book the Coasecratioa of Biabopa.
t 1 Oor., zi, 34., Titaa i, 6.

bouud bj whatever is agreed upon by all in I! .'nod, b^ tha
Bishop that is, a majority of the Clergy, and a maiority of
the Laity. This is called concurrent assent^ applicable prin-
cipally to the Legislative action of the Synod, not necessarily
carried into details. For instance, if a Board of Trustees
were appointed for the management of property, the busi-
ness would be conducted by the members as in ordinary
cases — subject of course always to the Synod.

There is no occasion for any appeal to the Local Legisla-
ture tor powers. Other religious societies bind themselves
by their own regulations without any such powers. Though
some of the oarlier Synods obtained enabling powers from
the State, the later ones have done without, and find the
voluntary compact principle sufficient for all purposes.

2. — Objects. — A nrst object of a Synod is to apply the
canons and laws of the !^rovincial Synod, in our case the
Church of England, to the local circumstances. It is also
to make such laws and regulations for the good government
and efficiency of the Church as are required from time to
time. Its functions are purely legislative, not judicial. It
is not called upon to give judgement upon doctrines. These
are already decided in the Standards of the Church of Eng-
land, which are accepted in the fundamental declaration.
Amongst matters to be regulated would be of course the
rules of order and mode of proceeding in the Synod, election
and qualification of lay representatives, financial questions
and management of property, appointment of ministers and
the tenure of their cures, laws of discipline, native missions,
measures for the spread of the gospel and decrease of vice,
higher education, preparation for the ministry, the election
of future Bishops, committees would be appointed to report
upon various subjects, and probably there would be elected
a standing committee. Want of legislation in these matters
is urgent, some are of deep importance, and you, my breth-
ren, supposing as a congregation you join the Synod, in
selecting your representatives next Easter will need to feel
your responsibility and to act with thought and prayer to
God to be guided aright, so that all may be done fqr His
Glory and the increase of His Kingdom.

8. — Good Besulis may be anticipated with reason though
we must expect some difficulties.

Mutual satisfaction and confidence may be expected from the
fact of all having their api)ointed sphere. All will be in their
place. The Bishop, while he take no important steps
without the counsel and consent of Clergy and Laity, ani
shares with them, indeed hands over to them a considerable
part of the administration of affairs, need not be dislocated from

VI.

any function which has always belonged to the Episcopal
oflico. The Clergy who are deeply interostid in measures re-
specting appointment to curon, mode of tenure in the same,
election ot their Bishop, and laws of discipline will be sub-
ject to no regulations without their consent. The Laity
who are most concerned of all in the efficient pertbrraance
of ministerial duties, v/ho supply the means of support to
their Clergy, who are the most fitting administrators of
trusts, whether of real or personal property, will have noth-
ing concluded without their approval.

The corporate life of the Diocese as a branch of the Church
Catholic will be exhibited and set in action with ability to
take part and to utter a distinct voi^e ?n any wider move-
ment affecting religion in the world.

By union and concert there will be more strength to do
good. The Clergy will not be so liable to ho disheartened
from a sense of isolation, and the Laitj, represented and
consulted by right, will be naturally more ready to aid in
every good work.

By common action a wider interest must be felt by all and
less danger will there be of individual eccentricity and of
congregational independence, by all taking part ana interest
in the general welfare of the Church, realizing the principle
that " if one member suffer all the members suffer with it,"
and "bearing one another's burdens," and "so fuUfilling
the law of Christ." *

And we may expect, (such is the testimony ot all who
have had part in Synods), that those who hold diflerent
views, within the latitude allowed in the Church of Eng-
land, will be brought nearer together in both feeling and
opinion. Each one, in open discussion may bring to the
other some truth which he has overlooked, and each may
convince the other of some extreme which the due propor-
tion of doctrine requires to be modified.

In any case even diflference of view need be do impedi-
ment to hearty co-operation. Considerable difierences in
ritual appear to have been no just ground of disunion, or
even disapproval, in the times of the Apostles. We do not
read that the Christian converts under St. James, who were
"all zealous of the law," f were any less acceptable dis-
ciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, than those from the Gentiles,
to whom St. Paul ministered at Antioch, who shrank from
Jewish Ritual. Thus while the Scriptures we have been
considering teach us not to be disheartened at the religions

* 1 Oor., xii, 26., Qal., vi, 2.
f Acts, xzi, 20.

acopal
ires ro-
I Bame,

3 Laity
rinance
>port to
[itorB of
ve noth-

! C\iurch
ibllity to
er viiove-

agih to do
leartened
ntcd and
r to aid in

by all and
ity and of
lid interest
e principie
if with it,
> fuimiling

ot all wbo
»ld difterent
cb of Eng-
feeling and
bring to the
I each may

due propor-

3 Doimpedi-
iifterences in
disunion, or
We do not
les, who wero
cceptable dis-
X the Gentiles,
3 shrank from
we have been
t the religioas

Vll.

controversies of our day, for some controvoray there h(ia
always been; we learn also charity and forbearance towards
one another.

If, in dependence upon the Holy Spirit, we can carry with
us into our Synod tho spirit of brotherly kindness in "hon-
or preferring one another," discussing difficult and exciting
auestions with manly and Christian forbearance, we may i"
oed hope our deliberations will be productive of good Ut
the Church of God and of profit to ourselves.

All who shall have taken part may return each yenr le-
freshed and edified, full of purpose to do more r ' i to
sacrifice more for the highest objects which can engage the
energies of man Yhen the results shall go forth, "tho
decrees for to keep," — the doctrines and principles and oruer
of our dcui Church of England, which we shall havp con-
firmed and applied to our special circumstances, "the
churehes" will "be established in the faith" "the faith which
was once delivered unto the Saints," * — the faith unmixed
with novelties ©f mediaeval days or with smooth things to puit
•the spirit of the age,' — the solid Verities of God, revealed to
us in Christ and His Apostles, recorded in the Scriptures,
summarized in the Creeds, transmitted to us in the Church.
May this movement also be productive of an increase of
labourers in the Lord's Harvest, an increase in the number
of the Churches, an increase and deepening of the true life
of holiness amongst us, an increase in the number of souls
brought to Christ in penitence and trust, and an incre "e to
that great multitude whom no man can number of all
nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, whose per-
fect bliss is deocribed in the figurative language of the final
Scripture, they stand " before the throne and the Lamb,
clothed with white robes and palms in their hands," and
sing with everlasting praise, " Salvation to our God, which
s-'^teth upon tho throue and unto the Lamb." f

' ■■.... .1 I .I.., — .^i. ■■■ I...... M_ii I I _■— — iiii.M i.i^»aii I I Mtmt

* Jude, 3.

t Ret., T il, 9-10.