SERMONS. 339 



afford you, which* I have reason to believe the 

 famous author of it intended not at first a pattern 

 to other churches, but an expedient to serve the 

 present exigency of his own, in a juncture scarce 

 capable of any thing better, and which, I am per- 

 suaded, the learnedest, and wisest, and most pious 

 of his followers would gladly relinquish for some- 

 thing more perfect and primitive ; would the ne- 

 cessities of their present condition (which have 

 no law, but much of excuse for those that really 

 lie under them) permit them the happiness of so 

 blessed an exchange, which God in mercy send 

 them. 



And so much of the second act, to which the 

 power is here designed, and that is the ordaining 

 of Elders, together with the distribution of them 

 Kara sToXiv, In every citij one, 



I have but three words to add of the first part 

 of my text, and that was the limitation of these 

 acts to the Apostle's prescription ; all must be so 

 done, even as he had appointed. So, in regard of 

 the variety of the offices themselves, and their > 

 several subordinations ; so in regard of the choice 

 of the persons, and their requisite qualifications ; 

 and so, also, in regard of the rites, and ceremo- 

 nies, and manner of ordaining them : still, 'XI? lyto 

 J'iETaga^Tiv. All, as I had appointed thee. 



And now, if any demand, where these Aifra^^r, 

 these constitutions Apostolical, are to be found ; 



* See Mr, Hooker's Preface, 



z 2 



