19

    elect officers such is the greater, & wherein the Substance

    of the ^call to the office consists) they may much more, (occasion

    & need so requiring) impose hands in ordinacion,

    wch is the lesser, & but the accomplishmt of the

    other: (a) Numb.8.10.

    5

    In such churches where there are no Elders, and

    the church so desire, we see not why Imposition

    of hands may not be pfourmed by ye Elders of

    other churches. Ordinary officers laid on hands upon

    the officers of many churches, as ye Presbytery

    at Antioch Ephesus laid hands upon Timothy an

    Evangelist(a), and ye Presbytery at Antioch laid

    hands upon Paul & Barnabas(b).      (a) 1 Tim.4.14.

    (b) Act.13.3.

    6

      Church officers are officers only to one church, even that pticu=

    lar over wch the Holy gh: hath made them overseers, inso=

    much as Elders are commanded to feed not all flocks,

    but that flock wch is committed to their faith, & trust &

    dependeth upon them(a). Nor can constant residence

    at one congregacion be necessary for a minister, no

    nor that lawfull: if he be not a minister to one

    congregacion onely, but to ye church universall, because

    he may not attend one part onely of ye church where

    he is a minister, but he is to attend unto all the

    flock: (a) 1 Pet.5.2. Act.20.28.

    7

      He that is clearely loosed from his office relacion unto the

    church whereof he was a minister, can not be

    looked at as an officer, nor pfourme any act of

    office in any other church, unlesse he be agayne orderly

    called unto office. wch when it shall be, we know

    nothing to hinder but that Imposition of hands also

    in ordinacion ought to be used towards him agayne.

    For so Paul ye Aple recd Imposition of hands twice at

    the least, from Ananias Act.9.17. & agayne Act.13.3.