THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY ORDER.
PROPOSITION XIV.
We believe Order to be a Sacrament, by which the Ministers of the Church are consecrated, and power given to them to perform such public offices as regard the service of God and the salvation of souls.
SCRIPTURE.
Acts, vi. 6. “These they set before the Apostles; and they, praying, imposed hands upon them.”-Ibid. xiii. 2. 3. “Separate me Saul and Barnabas, for the work whereunto I have taken them. Then they fasting, and praying, and imposing their hands upon them, sent them away.”—1 Tim. iv. 14.
Neglect not the grace that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the imposition of the hands of the Priesthood.”—Ibid. v. 22. “Impose not hands lightly upon any man, neither be partaker of other men's sins.”—2 Tim. i. 6. "For which cause I admonish thee, that thou stir up the grace of God, which is in thee, by the imposition of my hands.
FATHERS.
As in various passages of the New Testament, so in the most ancient monuments of Church-history, mention is made of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, and of their respective offices; and these are considered as divinely instituted. To them, with a view to promote the dignity of the worship of God, other inferior degrees of order, beginning with that of Subdeacon, were superadded also, in the earliest times, by
