Ratio disciplinae fratrum Nov-Anglorum. A faithful account of the discipline professed and practised; in…

It has been observed, That because in our Translation, it is enumerated among the Qualifications of a Deacon. [1 Tim. III. 2.] Even so must their Wives be grave, not Slanderers, sober, faithful in all things: And the French Churches therefore make it an Article of their Discipline, That as much as possible may be avoided, there should not be elected Elders and Deacons of the Church, those which had Wives contrary to the true Religion: When Deacons are chosen in the Churches, 'tis often enquired, Whether their Wives are qualified as has been directed? But this has been from a common Mistake about the Meaning of the Text; which does not say a Word about the Deacons Wife, any more than the Pastors, but only says, Let the Women [ΓΥΝΑΙΚΕΣ] be Grave. — Which Women are the Deaconesses; Officers not hitherto employed in the Churches of New-England.

The Deacons Elect, when they have in a Laudable Behaviour, for some time given Demonstration of their Ability, and Fidelity, do in some of the Churches become Deacons Ordained with Imposition of Hands. Though in many of these Churches, This Rite of their Confirmation, is fallen into such a Desuetude, as it is in other Churches of the Reformation. One Reason for this Omission, has been because in many of our Churches, the Deacons do little other Work, than ⟨p. 132⟩provide the Elements for the Eucharist; and a solemn Ordination to nothing but this, appears hardly a Congruity. But when an Ordination is intended, some Lord's Day (or Fast Day) being before signified by the Pastor for the Purpose, when the Day arrives the Pastor makes the Consummation of this Affair, to be among the other Exercises of the Day. He declares, that by the Churches Designation, such and such Persons are now to be confirmed in the Office of Deacons, if there now appear nothing to obstruct it. He therefore proposes unto the Brethren of the Church, [suppose Two to be now concerned:] That if they do still maintain and will now renew, their Choice of the Two Beloved Brethren, A. B. and C. D. to the Office of Deacons in the Church, their uplifted Hands may signify it. This being done, he addresses himself unto the Persons chosen; desiring them to intimate their Acceptance of the Churches Choice; which they successively do, with modest Expressions of their Willingness and Readiness, to do the Church all possible Service, and their Sense of their own being unable as well as unworthy to serve the Flock of our Glorious LORD, but requesting therefore the Prayers of all the Faithful for them, that they may faithfully discharge every Trust that shall be reposed in them.