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    mination of many nouns in the Greek language , becomes Piscop , and it was gradually changed by our forefathers into Bishop . The original word means simply an oversee )"; the Greek word being a compound like this in the English epi meaning over , and scopos

    seer . And it may be translated by the words overseer , president , chairman , or any term ^ by which the regulator of any meeting , or any persons acting the part of overseers are denominated . The

    bishop or overseer of an early Christian church was always an elder , and his powers were confined to the keeping of order and regularity in the community . . The utility of such an officer cannot be doubted . la every

    society that meets for transactions , whether civil or religious , an officer of this kind is found . We are not however accustomed to say the Bishop of the House of Commons , since usage has given to the presiding officer the name of the Speaker ; and , if any person officiates besides him , he is called the chairman . In either case , the office is performed by what in Greek would be called an e piscopos or bishop or overseer . I should be far therefore

    from contending for a name , though I should wish it to be fairly understood : and the great evil of the men , who in earj y times bore this name , was that from being the first only among equals , they asbumed to themselves anti

    christian power and lorded it pver Christ ' s heritage . This abominably wicked conduct cannot be too much reprobated ; , and it is the ' spirit of such men , not their name , which should excite in us the strongest feelings of disapprob ation .

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    Let us then suppose , that the term bishop is allowed to be used in a society , of which I have been speaking ; that it means only the chairman , the president , or the overseer : the question is , howis he to be appointed . Here the scriptures give us admirable rules on the object of the choice ; but the mode of election is left entirely to the discretion of the community . They say not one word on the mode of election , nor ou the time that he should fill the office . The Christian vyill not however be at a . loss on these points , and there are certain landmarks , by which we may steer our vessel into harbour .

    Throughout this discussion we must keep steadfastly in mind , that Christ ' s kingdom is not of this world , and that all efforts to bring it under the bondage of worldly principles will tend only to shew the incongruity of Christian and worldly forms of

    government . In worldly societies there is a constant contention between the governors and the governed , the former being never contented

    with the powers they have , but grasping at more ; the latter labouring with jealousy at every alteration or supposed encroachment . This must not be in a

    Christian community . A Diotrephes , who loves the pre-eminence , may glide in , but the community will be on its guard against such a contemptible character . The means by which such character obtain their ends , are by perpetuity in office and an improper mode of election- On these heads some plain rules may be laid down . ' With respect to the first , it is evident that , if the bishop has hi * office for life * and his successor

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    On the Discipline of a Christian Community . Letter III . 191

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 2, 1809, page 191, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1735/page/15/