"That the apostolic office is temporary, is a plain historical fact"

This quote by Charles Hodge is referring to the function of the apostles in the early Christian church. The apostles were the very first leaders of the church and were picked by Jesus himself. Hodge is saying that the apostolic workplace, or the role of the apostles, was only momentary. This is supported by historic evidence, as the apostles were just active in the church for a brief amount of time before their deaths. This is in contrast to the functions of other church leaders, such as bishops and priests, which have been around for centuries. Hodge's quote is a reminder that the apostles were just a temporary part of the church, and that their role was eventually changed by other leaders. This is an important reminder of the history of the church and the value of understanding the function of the apostles in the early church.