The order of the Gospel, professed and practised by the churches of Christ in…

2. We read in the New-Testament of Ordinary Officers imposing hands on them who were Extraordinary Officers. Thus Ananias imposed hands on Paul. Act 9 And after that, the Elders of the Church in Antioch imposed hands on Paul and Barnabas. Act. 13.3. And not only Paul but the Elders of the Church in Ephesus imposed hands on Timothy, who was an Evangelist ⟨p. 98⟩and therefore an Extraordinary Officer. Now if an ordinary Officer may lay his hands on one that is Extraordinary, why may not a Non-Elder appointed there unto by the Church, do the like to one that is only an Ordinary Presbyter? This clearly Answers what Papists and Prelates are wont to object, viz. that the Ordainer is greater than the Ordained, and that therefore none but Bishops ought to Ordain or impose hands, as being a degree above Presbyters. But was […] greater then the Apostle Paul? or the Ministers in the Church of Antioch greater then Paul and Barnabas? or the Presbyters in Ephesus greater then Timothy? In the beginning of the Reformation in England several who had ne•er been Ordained Priests by Bishops, were nevertheless made Bishops, as is observed in the late Collection of State Tracts. p. 50. Some Councils have allowed […] the Ordination of Bishops in a case of necessity when Bishops were not at hand, by those who were no Bishops, but inferior to them, which neither do some of our Episcopal Writers gainsay: And notwithstanding the Council of Trent has declared all Secular Ordinations to be nullities, that do• not make them •o be so.

2. We read in the New-Testament of Ordinary Officers imposing hands on them who were Extraordinary Officers. Thus Ananias imposed hands on Paul. Act 9 And after that, the Elders of the Church in Antioch imposed hands on Paul and Barnabas. Act. 13.3. And not only Paul but the Elders of the Church in Ephesus imposed hands on Timothy, who was an Evangelist ⟨p. 98⟩and therefore an Extraordinary Officer. Now if an o••inary Officer may lay his hands on one that is Extraordinary, why may not a Non-Elder appointed there unto by the Church, do the like to one that is only an Ordinary Presbyter? This clearly Answers what Papists and Prelates are wont to object, viz. that the Ordainer is greater than the Ordained, and that therefore none but Bishops ought to Ordain or impose hands, as being a degree above Presbyters. But was greater then the Apostle Paul? or the Ministers in the Church of Antioch greater then Paul and Barnabas? or the Presbyters in Ephesus greater then Timothy? In the beginning of the Reformation in England several who had neer been Odained Priests by Bishops, were nevertheless made Bishops, as is observed in the late Collection of State Tracts. p. 50. Some Councils have allowed the Ordination of Bishops in a case of necessity when Bishops were not at hand, by those who were no Bishops, but inferiour to them, which neither do some of our Episcopal Writers gainsay: And notwithstanding the Council of Trent has declared all Secular Ordinations to be nullities, that do not make them o be so.