Can. 31.

Deacons apart for this Service, by Prayer and Imposition of Hands, and the Qualifications that St. Paul requires in a Deacon, almost the very same with those for a Priest, sufficiently prove this Degree to be an Ecclesiastical Office; nor would the Primitive Church have forbidden Deacons, as it certainly did, to have followed secular Employments, if they had been mere Lay-Men.

Q. How long is it required that a Person shall remain in the Degree of a Deacon?

A. It is enjoined by the Church, "That a Deacon "shall continue in that Office for the Space of a whole Year at the least (except for reasonable "Causes it be otherwise seen to his Ordinary), to "the Intent he may be perfect and well expert "in the Things pertaining to the Ecclesiastical "Administration: In executing whereof, if he be "found faithful and diligent, he may be admitted "by his Diocesan to the Order of Priesthood."

And it is to be wished that this Rule was more particularly observed, that those who aspire to the Priesthood might give sufficient Proof of their Fitness for that high Calling.

Q. What Qualifications are required in a Deacon? A. Chiefly that he be a Man of a sober and godly Conversation, edifying by his Example those Christians where he officiates; and that he be endowed with such Measures of Learning, as to be able at least to render an Account of his Faith in Latin, and Can. 34. confirm it with Testimonies out of the holy Scripture: Especially he must be very conversant in those holy Books, which are the perfect Rule of Faith, and Manners, necessary for the governing of his own Life, the Instruction of others, and the Confuting of Gainsayers. The Bishop ought to have a moral Assurance, partly by his own Knowledge, and partly by the Testimonials of credible Hands, that the Person presented is so qualified; and his ArchDeacon, after Trial and Examination, professes, that he believes the Candidate so prepared.

Q. What do you mean by an Arch-Deacon?

Evag.

A. In great Churches, where the Bishops had many Deacons, one among them had the Title of Arch-Deacon, who was a Sort of Governor over all the Rest; to whom the Bishop committed some Authority to admonish and censure as it should be found expedient, still reserving an Appeal to himself. The original Jurisdiction, which of Right belonged to the Bishop, by Degrees, and mutual Consent, was in Part committed to the Arch-Deacon, whose Jurisdiction is founded on immemorial Cus tom in Subordination to the Bishop; and though for some Time he was only of the Order of Deacons, yet afterwards it became common for such as were Priests to be chosen to that Office, which consists in the inspecting the Lives and Behaviour of the Clergy, and in taking Care the Churches and Chancels be kept in good Repair, and that the Possessions, and all other Things belonging to God's House, be not embezzled or damnified; particularly to try Hieron. and examine those who shall be Candidates for Ep. ad. Holy Orders. The Institution of Arch-Deacons is very ancient, and their Authority very considerable; and the due Execution of the Office contributes very much to the good Government of the Church. Q. What is the Office of a Priest or Presbyter? A. To teach and instruct the People committed to his Charge by the Bishop of the Diocese, in the whole Doctrine of Christianity, as contained in the Holy Scriptures. To administer the Sacraments and the Discipline of Christ, as the Lord hath commanded. To oppose all such erroneous and strange Doctrines as are contrary to God's Word. To use both public and private Admonitions and Exhortations, as well to the Sick as to the Whole within his Cure, as Need shall require, and Occasion shall be given. To offer up the Prayers in the public Assemblies. To maintain Quietness, and Peace, and Love among all Christian People, especially among those committed to his Charge. To fashion and frame himself and Family according to the Doctrine

of Christ; and to make himself and them Examples to the Flock he feeds. To exercise all these Duties with Diligence and Fidelity, and to forsake and set aside (as much as may be) all worldly Cares and Studies; since the Employment of his Function is sufficient to engage all his Time and all his Thoughts. The sacerdotal Powers none must undertake, but such as have received their Commission from Bishops, who only have Authority to send Ministers into the Lord's Vineyard.

Q. What Qualifications are required in a Priest, or Minister of the Gospel, to enable him to discharge his Duty?

A. A thorough Knowledge of the whole Will of God, since it is the Priest's Lips must preserve Knowledge; and except they have it themselves, how can they communicate it to others? Faithfulness in the Instruction of those that are committed to their Care, that they may deliver nothing for the Will of God, but what is contained within the Bounds of their Commission, and that they may conceal nothing that is necessary for the People to believe and practise; and this, though it contradicts the Prejudices of some, and the corrupt and worldly Maxims of others. For by this particular Application to the Consciences of Men, according to their Wants and Necessities, it will be plain they consult not so much what will please them, as what will do them good. Great Prudence in all their Conduct; which, though it will not permit them to neglect any part of their Duty, yet it implies the performing it in such a Manner as may render Instructions and Persuasions most effectual, by taking the most convenient Seasons, and teaching Things of present Use, and by avoiding all unnecessary Provocations. A faithful Servant doth what he is commanded, and a wise Servant doth it in the most effectual Manner. But above all, exemplary Holiness, which is necessary not only for his own Salvation, but to make all his Endeavours for the Salvation of others effectual.

!

Q. What Care hath the Church of England taken, that unfit Persons should not be admitted to Holy Orders?

A. Besides the solemn Profession of the Candidates in the Presence of God, that they think themselves truly called according to the Will of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Church requires that the Bishops be well assured, either by their own Knowledge, or by the Testimonials of credible Persons, that the Candidates be Men of good Lives, and free from all noted Crimes, as well as of sufficient Learning for Can. 34. the Discharge of their Office. To this End it is wisely enjoined, that the Candidates shall bring sufficient Testimonials of their sober Life, from such as have known and lived near them for three Years before. Moreover, they are to undergo the Trial and Examination of the Arch Deacon, who is to assure the Bishop he thinks them apt and meet, both for Learning and godly Conversation. And yet to prevent any scandalous Intruders, the Bishop, before he gives them their Commission, makes a public Application to the Congregation, to enquire whether they know any Impediment, why the Persons presented should not be ordained; and if any Crime is objected against any one, the Bishop is to delay giving him Orders till he has cleared himself. And, as a farther Security in this Matter, if a Bishop shall Can. 35. be convicted of any culpable neglect in admitting Candidates, he shall be suspended by the ArchBishop of the Province from conferring Orders for two Years. It is to be heartily wished that all Persons concerned would be very conscientious in signing Testimonials, that this admirable Method might not be rendered ineffectual by an ill-timed Complaisance; for which they must severely answer at the dreadful Tribunal of God; since eminent Hands may mislead a Bishop the best disposed to do his Office. Q. IVhat is the Office of a Bishop?

4. The Office of a Bishop contains and includes in it all the Sacerdotal Powers; and by Consequence

Euseb.

lib. 1. c. 12. Phil. ii. 25. 2 Cor. viii. 23.

Gal. 1. 19.

the Powers of the inferior Orders; as, to dispose of the Church's Alms, to preach and pray, to administer the holy Sacraments, and absolve Penitents. And moreover, contains peculiarly the Power of consecrating Bishops to succeed them in vacant Sees, and of ordaining those inferior Officers, Presbyters and Deacons, and of confirming those that renew the solemn Vow, that was made in their Names at their Baptism. It hath the inherent Right of administering the Censures of the Church, and the Power of ruling and governing it, and providing for its Welfare by good Laws.

Q. How were the Bishops called in the Apos tolical Age?

A. Those whom we now call Bishops, were in the first Age of the Church styled Apostles, and by St. John, in the Revelation, Angels. And the Words Bishop and Presbyter in the same Age, were used often promiscuously to denominate the same Order, and generally that which we now call the Order of Priests. But in the succeeding Age, and that whilst St. John was alive, the Governors of the Church abstained from the Name of Apostles, and were contented with that of Bishops; and then the second Order was called altogether Presbyters. And that the Title of Bishop was appropriated thenceforward to those that had the Power of Ordaining, Confirming, and Governing, is plain from the Ecclesiastical Writers of that Age. So that it is not so much the Name, as the distinct Powers, which are contended for; of which there will be an Account given on the next Season of these Ember-Fasts?

Q. What do you mean by an Arch-Bishop?

A. When Christianity began to spread over the Provinces of the Roman Empire, the Bishops of lesser Cities were subordinate to those of the greater, after the Method of the Civil Government; the chief Bishop was originally styled the first Bishop, or Primate, and in the following Ages Metropolitan and Arch-Bishop; who was not superior to other