.DISCOURSE II. 151 of experiment for a year or two ; but rather a farther character of the personschosen. Let them besuch as are of some consi- derable standing in christianity, whose character and conversa- tion has been proved and found blameless, and fit for such an office. It seems to signify the same with that character of a bishop, verse O. That he must not be a novice, that is, not one that is lately converted, or lately received into the christian church. 3. They must be chosen by the church ; Acts vi. 3. Brethren, look ye out among you seven men, &c. The pastors, or elders, must not chuse them without. the church, for the apos- tles themselves, who were inspired, would not determine the persons, but left the church to chuse them, to shew us the stated method of chusing ordinaryofficers in a church. 4. They must accept of the call of the church, and that freely, and they must solemnly devote themselves to the service of Christ and the church. For all the subjects and servants of Christ in his visible kingdom must be voluntary, and the office of a deacon must be undertaken willingly,' and not by constraint, even as theoffice of a bishop; I Pet. v. 2. 5. They must be devoted and separated to this work by the solemn prayers of the church,, and seeking the divine benediction upon them in the discharge of their office. .Sowere Paul dud. Barnabas separated to the work ofthe minis- try amongst the Gentiles ; Acts viii. 2, 3: And so the deacons to their office ; Acts vi. 6. Herenote, that the elder, or elders of the church, ministers "and teachers, are to be the chief agents in this of air. So you find the apostles and teachers were the, chief agents in the two texts just cited : And as ministers may pronounce a benediction, or blessing in the name of our Lord'Jesus Christ; so perhaps here it may be proper for the minister to pronounce them blessed, if they faithfully perform this office, as well as to pray for a di- 'vine blessing upon them. The great dispute and enquiry, whether imposition of the hands of elders in this benediction, is now necessary, as in the primitive times, may be thus resolved In many scriptures where imposition of hands is mentioned, there were extraor- dinary and miraculous gifts conferred : You find this. in Ste- jilien and Philip, two of the first deacons; and you frequently find the Holy Ghost conferred on men by this ceremony ; Acts viii. 17, 18. and chapter ix. 17-19. Nor can I find one plain and certain instance of hands imposed in the primitive 'churches, where we are sure it was but an ordinary separation to an office without any extraordinary gifts conferred, or an inspired and effectual benediction given by an inspired person. Therefore I cannot conceive it necessary to be now practised ; for if it had been necessary, surely there would have been some more e'er- Stahl direction and cotnmatid for it. But since there is so much
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