ThesameisalsoconfirmedbythecontinualpracticeeventothisdayintheelectionofthebishopsofRome。Forifthebishopofanyplacehadtherightofchoosinganothertothesuccessionofthepastoraloffice，inanycity，atsuchtimeashewentfromthencetoplantthesameinanotherplace；muchmorehadhehadtherighttoappointhissuccessorinthatplaceinwhichhelastresidedanddied：
andwefindnotthateveranybishopofRomeappointedhissuccessor。Fortheywerealongtimechosenbythepeople，aswemayseebytheseditionraisedabouttheelectionbetweenDamasusandUrsinus；whichAmmianusMarcellinussaithwassogreatthatJuventiusthePraefect，unabletokeepthepeacebetweenthem，wasforcedtogooutofthecity；andthattherewereaboveahundredmenfounddeaduponthatoccasioninthechurchitself。Andthoughtheyafterwardswerechosen，first，bythewholeclergyofRome，andafterwardsbythecardinals；yetneveranywasappointedtothesuccessionbyhispredecessor。Ifthereforetheypretendednorighttoappointtheirownsuccessors，IthinkImayreasonablyconcludetheyhadnorighttoappointthesuccessorsofotherbishopswithoutreceivingsomenewpower；whichnonecouldtakefromtheChurchtobestowonthem，butsuchashadalawfulauthority，notonlytoteach，buttocommandtheChurch，whichnonecoulddobutthecivilsovereign。
Thewordministerintheoriginal，diakonos，signifiethonethatvoluntarilydoththebusinessofanotherman，anddifferethfromaservantonlyinthis，thatservantsareobligedbytheirconditiontowhatiscommandedthem；whereasministersareobligedonlybytheirundertaking，andboundthereforetonomorethanthattheyhaveundertaken：sothatboththeythatteachthewordofGodandtheythatadministerthesecularaffairsoftheChurcharebothministers，buttheyareministersofdifferentpersons。ForthepastorsoftheChurch，called“theministersoftheword，“*areministersofChrist，whoseworditis：buttheministryofadeacon，whichiscalled“servingoftables，“*2isaservicedonetothechurchorcongregation：sothatneitheranyonemannorthewholeChurchcouldeveroftheirpastorsayhewastheirminister；butofadeacon，whetherthechargeheundertookweretoservetablesordistributemaintenancetotheChristianswhentheylivedineachcityonacommonstock，oruponcollections，asinthefirsttimes，ortotakeacareofthehouseofprayer，oroftherevenue，orotherworldlybusinessoftheChurch，thewholecongregationmightproperlycallhimtheirminister。
Fortheiremploymentasdeaconswastoservethecongregation，thoughuponoccasiontheyomittednottopreachtheGospel，andmaintainthedoctrineofChrist，everyoneaccordingtohisgifts，asSt。Stephendid；andbothtopreachandbaptize，asPhilipdid：forthatPhilip，whichpreachedtheGospelatSamaria，*andbaptizedtheeunuch，*2wasPhiliptheDeacon，notPhiliptheApostle。ForitismanifestthatwhenPhilippreachedinSamaria，theApostleswereatJerusalem，*3and“whentheyheardthatSamariahadreceivedthewordofGod，sentPeterandJohntothem“；*4byimpositionofwhosehandstheythatwerebaptizedreceivedwhichbeforebythebaptismofPhiliptheyhadnotreceivedtheHolyGhost。*5ForitwasnecessaryfortheconferringoftheHolyGhostthattheirbaptismshouldbeadministeredorconfirmedbyaministeroftheword，notbyaministeroftheChurch。AndthereforetoconfirmthebaptismofthosethatPhiliptheDeaconhadbaptized，theApostlessentoutoftheirownnumberfromJerusalemtoSamaria，PeterandJohn，whoconferredonthemthatbeforewerebutbaptized，thosegracesthatweresignsoftheHolySpirit，whichatthattimedidaccompanyalltruebelievers；whichwhattheyweremaybeunderstoodbythatwhichSt。
Marksaith，“Thesesignsfollowthemthatbelieveinmyname；theyshallcastoutdevils；theyshallspeakwithnewtongues；theyshalltakeupserpents；andiftheydrinkanydeadlything，itshallnothurtthem；theyshalllayhandsonthesick，andtheyshallrecover。“*6ThistodowasitthatPhilipcouldnotgive，buttheApostlescouldand，asappearsbythisplace，effectuallydidtoeverymanthattrulybelieved，andwasbyaministerofChristhimselfbaptized：whichpowereitherChrist’sministersinthisagecannotconfer，orelsethereareveryfewtruebelievers，orChristhathveryfewministers。
Thatthefirstdeaconswerechosen，notbytheApostles，butbyacongregationofthedisciples；thatis，ofChristianmenofallsorts，ismanifestoutofActs，6，wherewereadthattheTwelve，afterthenumberofdiscipleswasmultiplied，calledthemtogether，andhavingtoldthemthatitwasnotfitthattheApostlesshouldleavethewordofGod，andservetables，saiduntothem，“Brethrenlookyououtamongyousevenmenofhonestreport，fulloftheHolyGhost，andofwisdom，whomwemayappointoverthisbusiness。“*HereitismanifestthatthoughtheApostlesdeclaredthemelected，yetthecongregationchosethem；whichalsoismoreexpresslysaidwhereitiswrittenthat“thesayingpleasedthewholemultitude，andtheyseven，“
UndertheOldTestament，thetribeofLeviwereonlycapableofthepriesthoodandotherinferiorofficesoftheChurch。Thelandwasdividedamongsttheothertribes，Leviexcepted，whichbythesubdivisionofthetribeofJosephintoEphraimandManassehwerestilltwelve。TothetribeofLeviwereassignedcertaincitiesfortheirhabitation，withthesuburbsfortheircattle；butfortheirportiontheyweretohavethetenthofthefruitsofthelandoftheirbrethren。Again，thepriestsfortheirmaintenancehadthetenthofthattenth，togetherwithpartoftheoblationsandsacrifices。ForGodhadsaidtoAaron，“Thoushalthavenoinheritanceintheirland，neithershaltthouhaveanypartamongstthem；IamthypartandthineinheritanceamongstthechildrenofIsrael。“*ForGodbeingthenKing，andhavingconstitutedthetribeofLevitobeHispublicministers，Heallowedthemfortheirmaintenancethepublicrevenue，thatistosay，thepartthatGodhadreservedtoHimself；whichweretithesandofferings：andthatisitwhichismeantwhereGodsaith，“Iamthineinheritance。“AndthereforetotheLevitesmightnotunfitlybeattributedthenameofclergy，fromKleros，whichsignifiethlotorinheritance；notthattheywereheirsofthekingdomofGod，morethanother；butthatGod’sinheritancewastheirmaintenance。NowseeinginthistimeGodHimselfwastheirKing，andMoses，Aaron，andthesucceedinghighpriestswereHislieutenants；itismanifestthattherightoftithesandofferingswasconstitutedbythecivilpower。
*Numbers，18。20
AftertheirrejectionofGodinthedemandingofaking，theyenjoyedstillthesamerevenue；buttherightthereofwasderivedfromthat，thatthekingsdidnevertakeitfromthem：forthepublicrevenuewasatthedisposingofhimthatwasthepublicperson；andthat，tilltheCaptivity，wastheking。Andagain，afterthereturnfromtheCaptivity，theypaidtheirtithesasbeforetothepriest。
HithertothereforeChurchlivingsweredeterminedbythecivilsovereign。
OfthemaintenanceofourSaviourandhisApostles，wereadonlytheyhadapursewhichwascarriedbyJudasIscariot；andthatoftheApostlessuchaswerefishermendidsometimesusetheirtrade；andthatwhenourSavioursentthetwelveApostlestopreach，heforbadethemtocarrygold，andsilver，andbrassintheirpurses，“forthattheworkmanisworthyofhishire“：*bywhichitisprobabletheirordinarymaintenancewasnotunsuitabletotheiremployment；fortheiremploymentwas“freelytogive，becausetheyhadfreelyreceived“；*2
andtheirmaintenancewasthefreegiftofthosethatbelievedthegoodtidingtheycarriedaboutofthecomingoftheMessiahtheirSaviour。TowhichwemayaddthatwhichwascontributedoutofgratitudebysuchasourSaviourhadhealedofdiseases；ofwhicharementioned“certainwomenwhichhadbeenhealedofevilspiritsandinfirmities；MaryMagdalen，outofwhomwentsevendevils；andJoannathewifeofChuza，Herod’ssteward；andSusanna，andmanyothers，whichministereduntohimoftheirsubstance。“*3
AfterourSaviour’sascension，theChristiansofeverycitylivedincommonuponthemoneywhichwasmadeofthesaleoftheirlandsandpossessions，andlaiddownatthefeetoftheApostles，ofgoodwill，notofduty；*for“whilstthelandremained。“saithSt。PetertoAnanias，“wasitnotthine？Andafteritwassold，wasitnotinthypower？“*2Whichshowethheneedednothavesavedhisland，norhismoneybylying，asnotbeingboundtocontributeanythingatallunlesshehadpleased。AndasinthetimeoftheApostles，soalsoallthetimedownward，tillafterConstantinetheGreat，weshallfindthatthemaintenanceofthebishopsandpastorsoftheChristianChurchwasnothingbutthevoluntarycontributionofthemthathadembracedtheirdoctrine。Therewasyetnomentionoftithes：butsuchwasinthetimeofConstantineandhissonstheaffectionofChristianstotheirpastors，asAmmianusMarcellinussaith，describingtheseditionofDamasusandUrsinusaboutthebishopric，thatitwasworththeircontention，inthatthebishopsofthosetimesbytheliberalityoftheirflock，andespeciallyofmatrons，livedsplendidly，werecarriedincoaches，andweresumptuousintheirfareandapparel。
Butheremaysomeaskwhetherthepastorwerethenboundtoliveuponvoluntarycontribution，asuponalms，“Forwho，“saithSt。
Paul，“goethtowarathisowncharges？orwhofeedethaflock，andeatethnotofthemilkoftheflock？“*Andagain，“DoyenotknowthattheywhichministeraboutholythingsliveofthethingsoftheTemple；andtheywhichwaitatthealtarpartakewiththealtar“；*2thatistosay，havepartofthatwhichisofferedatthealtarfortheirmaintenance？Andthenheconcludeth，“EvensohaththeLordappointedthattheywhichpreachthegospelshouldliveofthegospel。“Fromwhichplacemaybeinferred，indeed，thatthepastorsoftheChurchoughttobemaintainedbytheirflocks；butnotthatthepastorsweretodetermineeitherthequantityorthekindoftheirownallowance，andbe，asitwere，theirowncarvers。Theirallowancemustneedsthereforebedeterminedeitherbythegratitudeandliberalityofeveryparticularmanoftheirflockorbythewholecongregation。Bythewholecongregationitcouldnotbe，becausetheiractswerethennolaws：thereforethemaintenanceofpastorsbeforeemperorsandcivilsovereignshadmadelawstosettleitwasnothingbutbenevolence。Theythatservedatthealtarlivedonwhatwasoffered。Somaythepastorsalsotakewhatisofferedthembytheirflock，butnotexactwhatisnotoffered。Inwhatcourtshouldtheysueforitwhohadnotribunals？Oriftheyhadarbitratorsamongstthemselves，whoshouldexecutetheirjudgementswhentheyhadnopowertoarmtheirofficers？ItremaineththereforethattherecouldbenocertainmaintenanceassignedtoanypastorsoftheChurch，butbythewholecongregation；andthenonlywhentheirdecreesshouldhavetheforce，notonlyofcanons，butalsooflaws；
whichlawscouldnotbemadebutbyemperors，kings，orothercivilsovereigns。TherightoftithesinMoses’LawcouldnotbeappliedtothenministersoftheGospel，becauseMosesandthehighpriestswerethecivilsovereignsofthepeopleunderGod，whosekingdomamongsttheJewswaspresent；whereasthekingdomofGodbyChristisyettocome。
HithertohathbeenshownwhatthepastorsoftheChurchare；whatarethepointsoftheircommission，asthattheyweretopreach，toteach，tobaptize，tobepresidentsintheirseveralcongregations；
whatisecclesiasticalcensure，viz。，excommunication，thatistosay，inthoseplaceswhereChristianitywasforbiddenbythecivillaws，aputtingofthemselvesoutofthecompanyoftheexcommunicate，andwhereChristianitywasbythecivillawcommanded，aputtingtheexcommunicateoutofthecongregationsofChristians；whoelectedthepastorsandoftheChurch，thatitthecongregation；whoconsecratedandblessedthem，thatitwasthepastor；whatwastheirduerevenue，thatitwasnonebuttheirownpossessions，andtheirownlabour，andthevoluntarycontributionsofdevoutandgratefulChristians。WearetoconsidernowwhatofficeintheChurchthosepersonshavewho，beingcivilsovereigns，haveembracedalsotheChristianfaith。