24 MANUAL OF INSTRUCTION 



to the rule, whether it was a multitude as on the 

 day of Pentecost, or a jailor, in a prison, by night, 

 who desired to be numbered with the believers in 

 Christ. And as little children had been received 

 as members of the Jewish Church by the rite of cir- 

 cumcision, so children were incorporated into the 

 Christian body by baptism. 



Second, It became the custom of the Apostles to 

 lay hands on those who were baptized, administer- 

 ing what we now call the rite of confirmation. In 

 the Epistle to the. Hebrews the laying on of hands 

 is classed among the very elements of the Christian 

 faith. 



Third, There seems to have been immediately 

 developed a ministry of three orders, consisting at 

 first of Apostles, Elders, and Deacons, and then, 

 as the Apostles passed away, of Bishops, Elders 

 and Deacons, the Bishops succeeding, it is thought, 

 to the Apostolic office. Here was at once inaugu- 

 rated a succession, transmitted by ordination, a 

 succession, involving a distinction of degrees, and 

 perpetuating a presidency in its highest rank. 

 This three-fold ministry seems to have been bound 

 up in the very structure of the Church, and be- 

 came one of its features wherever the Church was 

 planted. 



Fourth, Another feature was the celebration of 

 the Holy Communion. This was a sacrament in- 

 stituted by our Lord Himself, and was celebrated 



