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536 THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHEEPFOLDS
me a single command as to what they shall be. Strange, this; the Bible gives no answer to so apparently important a question! God surely would not have left His word without an answer to anything His children ought to ask. Surely it must be a ridiculous question-a question we ought never to have put, or thought of putting. Let us think of it again a little. To be sure,-It is a ridiculous question, and we should be ashamed of ourselves for having put it:-What should be the offices of the Clergy? That is to say, What are the possible spiritual necessities which at any time may arise in the Church, and by what means and men are they to be supplied?-evidently an infinite question. Different kinds of necessities must be met by different authorities, constituted as the necessities arise. Robinson Crusoe, in his island, wants no Bishop, and makes a thunderstorm do for an Evangelist.1 The University of Oxford would be ill off without its Bishop; but wants an Evangelist besides; and that forthwith.2 The authority which the Vaudois shepherds need is of Barnabas, the Son of Consolation;3 the authority which the city of London needs is of James, the Son of Thunder. Let us then alter the form of our question, and put it to the Bible thus: What are the necessities most likely to arise in the Church? and may they be best met by different men, or in great part by the same men acting in different capacities? and are the names attached to their offices of any consequence? Ah, the Bible answers now, and that loudly. The Church is built on the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the corner-stone. Well; we cannot have two foundations, so we can have no more
1 [“On the 16th of May (according to my wooden calendar) the wind blew exceeding hard, accompanied with abundance of lightning and thunder all day, and was succeeded by a very stormy night. The seeming anger of the heavens made me have recourse to my Bible,” etc. (p. 154, ed. 1818.).]
2 [Samuel Wilberforce, Bishop of Oxford, 1845-1869; the Bishop’s attitude on the Hampden Controversy, the presence of Dr. Pusey in his diocese, and other circumstances, had at this time made him “suspect” to the Evangelical Party.]
3 [For the persecution of the Vaudois Church, see Vol. I. pp. 392-393.]
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[Version 0.04: March 2008]
