Presbyter

a priest, or person in priest's orders. He is thus called from the Greek woecSurecoc, elder; of wpersue, old; because, anciently, none were ordained but such as ee es were advanced in years. The great dispute between the retainers to the Geneva and the Roman discipline about the samene or difference of presbyters and bishops, in the times of the apostles. Thase who consult Acts xx. 17, 28. Phil. i. +1. Tit. i. 5.7. and 1 Tim, iii. 1.. may perhaps _ be led to conclude, that these titles were applied to the same persons. The learned bishop Usher expre ly says, ** T have ever declared my opinion to be, that _ episcopus et presbyter gradu tantum differunt, _ non ordine; and consequently, that in places - where bishops cannot be had, the ordination by presbyters stands valid.” And being asked by his majesty at the Isle of Wight, «* Whether he found in antiquity, that presbyters alone ordained any?” he replied, ‘* Yes; and that he could shew his majesty more; even where pres- byters alone succe ively ordained bishops;” and instanced inJerom’s words (Epist. ad Evagrium) of the presbyters of Alexandria choosing and making their own bishops from the days of _ Mark, till Heraclius and inion bates, Baxter's Life, p. zoo. This was the constant sense of our first reformers, Cranmer, Pilkington, Jewel, Grindal, _ Whitgift, Bancroft, . Bishop Burnet ex- pre ly says, “* As for the notion of distinct _ offices of bishop and presbyter, I confe , it is ‘not so clear to me; and therefore since I look _ upon the sacramental actions as the highest of sacred performances, I cannot but acknowledge those who are empowered for them must be of the highest office in the church.” Vind. of the Church of Scotland, pa. 330. See Btsyop.