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out entering into such minutiae ^ as arc . inconsistent with the whole tenor of the gospel ; and hence it is evident , that in following the scripture plan , the number must
be left to the discretion of the society- Wherever the society is numerous enough ( for the society may be too small to require a committee , as when only two or three can be found to meet
toge-V m . W < W « « M k « ther ) the number will be easily iixed upon . I should imagine , that a bishop and ten elders would be quite enough for any
community : for it is to be deep - ly fixed in mind , tiiat this is not & worldly society , where men are ambitious of posts , either for the honour or emoluments annexed to
them * the persons elected into our -committee mean to discharge its duties , and there will be no fear of absence but from some unavoidable cause . Supposing then that eleven is the number fixed upon by the community , we are to consider in what man - ner , and for how long a time they are to Ik ; appointed . . But lure I am aware , that some
persons will be apt to cry out ., What ! shall we admit bishops again among us , after having seen the mischiefs and cruelties exercised in the world by the tyranny of rhe church of Rome ? I reply , be not deceived by a name . I am not thinking now of an individual
puffed up with popish pride , decorated by popish titles , and not to be approached but with servility or meanness . The bishops I propose are men , who have the
prototype of their character in the great bishop of the congregation and shepherd of the flock , our Lord Jesus Christ . The abuse ut the name and character of a
bishpp i $ uq argument against its
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On the Discipline of a Ch istian Community . Letter II . 87
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scriptural use . With popish bishops we have nothing to do . They may be essential to popery . We are to look for bishops suited to the Christian community- - and
such may be found , though the character has been for so many years grossly abused by popery ^ and made subservient to the basest purposes of worldly policy . Again it will be said , what a
number of bishops shall we , not have , and we may see a mechsu * nic or a tradesman supporting this character . To be sure we shall ^ and why should we not ? Many thousands would be in England ; but they would very few of them be known out of the limits of
their respective communities : and as to their occupation in life , J do not observe tiuit this is once adverted to in the qualifications laid down by the apostle : for this office . They have learned Christianity
but ill , who have the vulgar worldly pre-possessions respecting the employments of life , -and , if our Saviour and his apostles were not taken from the rich the powerful , or the learned classes of life , it little becomes their disciples t <*
despise any man on account oi his employment . Let me recommend again the perusal of the Genera ! Kpistlc of St . James on this subject : and , if any peculiar caution in the election of sl
bishop is necessary , it might be to take great care , not to elect a man particularly distinguished for either his riches , his rank , or his learning , unless some very striking circumstance made it necessary .
I may hereafter give my reasons for this restriction , and ia the mean time remain , Sir , Ybuv constant reader , F .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1809, page 87, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1733/page/31/
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