IX. BISHOP.

'For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.' 1 Peter ii. 25.

THE word Bishop occurs four times in the singular, and once in the plural. Rendered overseers in Acts xx. 28. Greek, Episcopos. Latin, Episcopus. From 'over,' and 'I look.' Signifies an overseer, an inspector, or one that has the oversight. Jesus is Episcopus episcoporum; i. e. Bishop of Bishops. The Hebrew pâkid, rendered episcopus, has the same signification. The Athenians gave this name to the person who presided in their courts of justice, and the Digest gave it to those magistrates who had the inspection of the bread market, and other things of that nature. In Phil. i. 1. it signifies the pastor of a church. It would seem from the Apostle Paul's directions to Timothy and Titus, that he considered the office to be of a very sacred character. The former is supposed to have been bishop of the Ephesian church.

ment.

There has been much dispute about the genuineness of Presbyterian and Episcopalian form of governAll such matters we leave to those who have leisure and inclination to pursue them. Our chief business is with the title as applied to the Bishop of our souls.

It would seem from the definition of the word, that it signifies an overseer. Jesus then is appointed to

oversee the concerns of the Christian church. All

men belong to him, by heirship, and by his death. Of course, he will take care of his sacred charge. If one is lost, Jesus will be required to account for it by Him who appointed him to his office.

Earthly bishops too often provide for themselves to the neglect of those of their charge. The Heavenly Bishop provides for his flock. One leaves in times of danger. The other never forsakes. Earthly bishops must die. Jesus lives forever. In fine, the one sacrifices his flock. The other sacrifices himself.

Thus all are committed to the Shepherd and Bishop of souls. He will oversee and instruct till all are brought home to glory, that God may be all in all.

IX. BISHOP.

'For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.' 1 Peter ii. 25.

THE Word Bishop occurs four times in the singular, and once in the plural. Rendered overseers in Acts xx. 28. Greek, Episcopos. Latin, Episcopus. From 'over,' and 'I look.' Signifies an overseer, an inspector, or one that has the oversight. Jesus is Episcopus episcoporum; i. e. Bishop of Bishops. The Hebrew pâkid, rendered episcopus, has the same signification. The Athenians gave this name to the person who presided in their courts of justice, and the Digest gave it to those magistrates who had the inspection of the bread market, and other things of that nature. Phil. i. 1. it signifies the pastor of a church. It would seem from the Apostle Paul's directions to Timothy and Titus, that he considered the office to be of a very sacred character. The former is supposed to have been bishop of the Ephesian church.

ment.

In

There has been much dispute about the genuineness of Presbyterian and Episcopalian form of governAll such matters we leave to those who have leisure and inclination to pursue them. Our chief business is with the title as applied to the Bishop of our souls.

It would seem from the definition of the word, that it signifies an overseer. Jesus then is appointed to oversee the concerns of the Christian church. All

men belong to him, by heirship, and by his death. Of course, he will take care of his sacred charge. If one is lost, Jesus will be required to account for it by Him who appointed him to his office.

Earthly bishops too often provide for themselves to the neglect of those of their charge. The Heavenly Bishop provides for his flock. One leaves in times of danger. The other never forsakes. Earthly bishops must die. Jesus lives forever. In fine, the one sacrifices his flock. The other sacrifices himself.

Thus all are committed to the Shepherd and Bishop of souls. He will oversee and instruct till all are brought home to glory, that God may be all in all.

X. BRANCH.

Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Behold! the man whose name is the BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord.' Zech. vi. 12.

COMMENTATORS generally suppose the Messiah is intended by this word. It is used in this manner in Isa. iv. 2. xi. 1. Jer. xxiii. 5. xxxiii. 15. Zech. iii. 8. Isaiah and Jeremiah call him by this name as a kind of prophecy of his miraculous birth of a virgin. The Chaldee has, 'whose name is my Messiah.' Cruden renders Luke i. 78, 'the branch from on high,' instead of 'the day-spring from on high.'*

The following things are said of this great personage prefigured by the Branch:

I. He would build the temple of the Lord.

II. He would rule upon his throne.

III. He would be a priest upon his throne.

Other offices and work are assigned to him, but the above are the most prominent.

I. He was to build the temple of the Lord. By this language we are, of course, to understand a temple of a spiritual kind, one, differing in beauty, glory, and duration from all others: one, designed to last when thrones, dominions and earthly temples shall

* The Vulgate translates Orienș, Jesus Christ is the Branch of the house of David. He is likewise, Oriens, the Sun of Righteousness, which is risen in order to enlighten us, and to deliver us out of the shadow of death.