Zoo were nothin but a certain number of Llen. and Women Converted to-God by the preaching ofthe Gofpel, with their baptized feed , affociating themfelves in Obedience unto Char Commands, and by the Direclion of his .poi les, for the common Profeonof thefame Faith, the Obfervance and Performance of all Divine Inflitutions of Religions Worthip, unto the Glory of God, their own Edification, and the Conver(ion of others. Thefe Believers thus affo- ciated in Societies, knowing the Command and Ap- pointment of Jefus Chrift by his Apofiles for that End, did choofefrom among themllves, fuch as were to be their Rulers, in the Nameand Authority ofChrift, according to the Law and Order of his inftitutions, who in the Scripture are called on various Confiderations, Elders, Bithops, Paflors and the like names of Dignity, Au- thority and Office ; who were to adminifter all the fo- lemnOrdinances ofthe Churchamongthem. Unto this Office they were folemnly appointed, ordained, or fet apart, by the Apofiles thernfelves,with fafting:Prayer and impofition of hands, or by other ordinary Officers after their deceafe. This was the way and method ofthe Call and (cuing apart ofall Ordinary Officers in the Church, both under the Old Teftament and in the New. It is founded in the Light ofNature. In the firft Inftitution ofordinary ChurchRulers under the Law, the People looked out and choÇe fit Perfons, whom aiofees fet apart to the Office, Deut. t. 13,/ 4, 15. And in the Call ofDeacons, ,s 6. The Apoftle ufes the fame Words, or words ofthe fame importance unto the Church, as e7Wofees did to the People; As6. afferting the Continuationof the fame way andorder in their Call. And whereas he who
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