Answ. There is need that Deacons be tried; and it is said, they must be found [Greek or Hebrew], blameless in conversation, not […], apt to teach, which is required in a Teacher, 1 Tim. 3. 1. for these who are to show mercy with cheerfulness, and to give with simplicity, as Deacons must by their office do, Rom. 12. 8. must be of approved and tried blamelessness, lest they defraud the poor. 2. It is not said that Deacons were ordained with fasting and prayer, Acts 6. as the Elders are chosen in every Church, Acts 14. 23. and as hands are laid upon Paul and Barnabas; Acts 13. v. 3. 4. but simply that the Apostles, Acts 6. 6. prayed and laid their hands on them. Which seemeth to me, to be nothing, but a sign of praying over the Deacons, and no ceremony, or Sacrament conferring on them the Holy Ghost; And Steven his working of miracles, and speaking with wisdom irresistible, was but the fruit of that grace and extraordinary measure of the Holy Ghost, abundantly poured forth on all ranks of persons, in those days, when the prophecy of Joel was now taking its accomplishment; Act. 2. 16, 17, 18 19. Jocl. 2. 28. 29. which grace was in Steven before he was ordained a Deacon, by the laying on of hands. Act. 6. 3, 4, 5. And the Text saith not that Steven did wonders and signs amongst the people by virtue of imposition of hands, or of his Deaconry, but because he was full of faith and power. v. 8. else you must make working of miracles a gift bestowed on all those who serve Tables, and are not to give themselves to continual praying, and the Ministry of the Word. I think, papists will not say so much of all their priests; and we can say it of none of our pastors, nor doth Chrysostom say that Steven, as a Deacon, and by virtue of the office of a Deacon wrought miracles; but only that his miracles and disputing was a mere consequent of laying on of hands. Fa•ther laying on of hands was taken from the custom of blessing amongst the Jews, Christ laid his hands upon ⟨p. 170⟩young children and blessed them, yet did he not, thereby, design them to any office. The fourth council of Carthage saith, Deacons should administer the Sacraments; but times were growing worse then: and two things in ancient times made the office degenerate. 1. The laziness of pastors who laid preaching and baptizing on the Deacon. 2.
Answ. There is need that Deacons be tryed; and it is sayd, they must be found 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, blamelesse in conversation, not 〈…〉, apt to teach, which is required in a Teacher, 1 Tim. 3. 1. for these who are to shew mercy with cheerfulnes, and to give with simplicity, as Deacons must by their office doe, Rom. 12. 8. must be of approved and tryed blamelesnes, lest they detrand the poore. 2. It is not sayd that Deacons were ordained with fasting and prayer, Acts 6. as the Elders are chosen in every Church, Acts 14. 23. and as hands are layd upon Paul and Barnabas; Acts 13. v. 3. 4. but simply that the Apostles, Acts 6. 6. prayed and layd their hands on them. Which seemeth to mee, to be nothing, but a signe of praying over the Deacons, and no ceremony, or Sacrament conferring on them the Holy Ghost; And Steven his working of miracles, and speaking with wisdome irresistible, was but the fruit of that grace and extraordinary measure of the Holy Ghost, abundantly powred forth on all rankes of persons, in those dayes, when the prophecy of Iocl was now taking its accomplishment; Act. 2. 16, 17, 18 19. Iocl. 2. 28. 29. which grace was in Steven before hee was ordained a Deacon, by the laying on of hands. Act. 6. 3, 4, 5. And the Text saith not that Steven did wonders and signes amongst the people by vertue of imposition of hands, or of his Deaconry, but because he was full of faith and power. v. 8. else you must make working of miracles a gift bestowed on all those who serve Tables, and are not to give themselves to continuall praying, and the Ministery of the Word. I thinke, papists will not say so much of all their priests; and we can say it of none of our pastors, nor doth Chysostome say that Steven, as a Deacon, and by vertue of the office of a Deacon wrought miracles; but onely that his miracles and disputing was a meere consequent of laying on of hands. Fa•ther laying on of hands was taken from the cus•ome of blessing amongst the Jewes, Christ layd his hands upon
