第69章

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，“*(2)isaservicedonetothechurchorcongregation：sothatneitheranyonemannorthewholeChurchcouldeveroftheirpastorsayhewastheirminister；butofadeacon，whetherthechargeheundertookweretoservetablesordistributemaintenancetotheChristianswhentheylivedineachcityonacommonstock，oruponcollections，asinthefirsttimes，ortotakeacareofthehouseofprayer，oroftherevenue，orotherworldlybusinessoftheChurch，thewholecongregationmightproperlycallhimtheirminister。

Fortheiremploymentasdeaconswastoservethecongregation，thoughuponoccasiontheyomittednottopreachtheGospel，andmaintainthedoctrineofChrist，everyoneaccordingtohisgifts，asSt。Stephendid；andbothtopreachandbaptize，asPhilipdid：forthatPhilip，whichpreachedtheGospelatSamaria，*andbaptizedtheeunuch，*(2)wasPhiliptheDeacon，notPhiliptheApostle。ForitismanifestthatwhenPhilippreachedinSamaria，theApostleswereatJerusalem，*(3)and“whentheyheardthatSamariahadreceivedthewordofGod，sentPeterandJohntothem“；*(4)byimpositionofwhosehandstheythatwerebaptizedreceived(whichbeforebythebaptismofPhiliptheyhadnotreceived)theHolyGhost。*(5)ForitwasnecessaryfortheconferringoftheHolyGhostthattheirbaptismshouldbeadministeredorconfirmedbyaministeroftheword，notbyaministeroftheChurch。AndthereforetoconfirmthebaptismofthosethatPhiliptheDeaconhadbaptized，theApostlessentoutoftheirownnumberfromJerusalemtoSamaria，PeterandJohn，whoconferredonthemthatbeforewerebutbaptized，thosegracesthatweresignsoftheHolySpirit，whichatthattimedidaccompanyalltruebelievers；whichwhattheyweremaybeunderstoodbythatwhichSt。

Marksaith，“Thesesignsfollowthemthatbelieveinmyname；theyshallcastoutdevils；theyshallspeakwithnewtongues；theyshalltakeupserpents；andiftheydrinkanydeadlything，itshallnothurtthem；theyshalllayhandsonthesick，andtheyshallrecover。“*(6)ThistodowasitthatPhilipcouldnotgive，buttheApostlescouldand，as