re distinctly spiritual work of preaching. Thus Stephen's
"faith and power" (Acts vi, vii) stirred up the first persecution; and
Philip, another of the first Deacons, by his faithful preaching
brought about the conversion of the Samaritans (Acts viii. 5-14), and
then laid the first stone in the foundation of the Ethiopian Church
(Acts viii. 26-38).

Thus from the first beginning of "The Kingdom of Heaven" we find the
three orders or classes of Ministers, which have been ever since in
the Holy Catholic Church. Apostles and Bishops bearing the Lord's
commission to which the promise of His presence was attached; Elders
or Priests having charge of congregations, as Pastors, to feed,
instruct, and lead; and Deacons having special oversight of the relief
of the poor, but also using their talents to preach as God gave unto
them.

The position and life of "The Brethren" are set forth with equal
clearness. As soon as a man was induced, by the leading of the Holy
Spirit, to profess his belief in Jesus the crucified--as being
Messiah, the Son of God, our Saviour--he was baptized according to
the Lord's instructions to the Apostles (S. Matt. xxviii. 19). He was
thus enrolled amongst the subjects of "The Kingdom of Heaven," who
were commonly spoken of as "Believers" _or_ "The faithful," as "The
Brethren," and as "Saints." In this way multitudes were brought into
the Church on the day of Pentecost (Acts ii. 41); thus Philip admitted
the people of Samaria (Acts viii. 12), and the Ethiopian officer of
Queen Candace (Acts viii. 36-38). Thus S. Peter admitted the Gentile
Cornelius, his hesitation to do so having been first removed by the
manifest descent upon him of the Holy Ghost (Acts x. 47, 48); and thus
S. Paul and S. Barnabas continually admitted converts in their
missionary journeys. It does not appear that the Apostles themselves
baptized; but they directed the act to be administered by an
attendant. Thus S. Paul took John Mark with him as his "minister" on
his first journey (Acts xiii. 5), and on other journeys Silas and
Timothy and others. When Cornelius and his friends were baptized, we
do not read that S. Peter baptized them, but "he commanded them to be
baptized in the name of the Lord" (Acts x. 48); and S. Paul expresses
his thankfulness that only a few individuals could say that they had
been baptized by him in person, "lest any should say that I had
baptized in my own name" (1 Cor. i. 14-17).

The life of "The Brethren