In the historical extracts given in the explanation of the first horseman, it is clear that the first ministers were all equal; but a time came about the close of the first century when the most influential among the clergy grasped the power and exalted themselves to a position of authority over the rest. The manner in which this transformation was effected is explained by the learned Gieseler as follows: "After the death of the apostles, and the pupils of the apostles, to whom the general direction of the churches had always been conceded, some one amongst the presbyters of each church was suffered gradually to take the lead in its affairs. In the same irregular way the title of _bishop_ was appropriated to the first presbyter." Eccl. Hist., Vol. I, p. 65. In the days when the apostles were active in the affairs of the church there were but two classes in the ministry--elders, or bishops, and deacons; but when one of the presbyters was exalted to a higher position than the rest and assumed to himself the exclusive use of the word bishop, there were three classes. To quote the words of Geo. P. Fisher: "After we cross the limit of the first century we find that with each board of elders there is a person to whom the name of bishop is specially applied, although, for a long time, he is likewise often called a presbyter. In other words, in the room of a two-fold, we have a three-fold ministry." Hist. of the Christian Church, p. 51. The height to which the single bishop of authority in a church had been exalted is well illustrated in the Ignatian Epistles. Ignatius was bishop of Antioch and was condemned by the emperor Trajan to suffer death by being thrown to the wild beasts in the amphitheatre in Rome. His execution in this manner took place Dec. 20, A.D. 107. He wrote a number of epistles, a few extracts from which I will give. "Wherefore it is fitting that ye should run together in accordance with the will of your bishop, which thing also ye do. For your justly renowned presbytery, worthy of God, is fitted as exactly to the bishop as the strings are to the harp." To the Ephesians, Chap. 4. "See that ye all follow the bishop, even as Jesus Christ does the Father.... Let no man do anything connected with the church without the bishop." To the Smyrnaean's, Chap. 8. "It is not lawful without the bishop either to baptize or to celebrate a love-feast; but whatsoever he shall approve of, that is also pleasing to God." Smyrnaean's, Chap. 8. "It is well to reverence both God and the bishop. He who honors the bishop has been honored of God; but he who does anything without the knowledge of the bishop, does [in reality] serve the devil." Smyrnaean's, Chap. 9.