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，“*2isaservicedonetothechurchorcongregation：sothatneitheranyonemannorthewholeChurchcouldeveroftheirpastorsayhewastheirminister；butofadeacon，whetherthechargeheundertookweretoservetablesordistributemaintenancetotheChristianswhentheylivedineachcityonacommonstock，oruponcollections，asinthefirsttimes，ortotakeacareofthehouseofprayer，oroftherevenue，orotherworldlybusinessoftheChurch，thewholecongregationmightproperlycallhimtheirminister。
Fortheiremploymentasdeaconswastoservethecongregation，thoughuponoccasiontheyomittednottopreachtheGospel，andmaintainthedoctrineofChrist，everyoneaccordingtohisgifts，asSt。Stephendid；andbothtopreachandbaptize，asPhilipdid：forthatPhilip，whichpreachedtheGospelatSamaria，*andbaptizedtheeunuch，*2wasPhiliptheDeacon，notPhiliptheApostle。ForitismanifestthatwhenPhilippreachedinSamaria，theApostleswereatJerusalem，*3and“whentheyheardthatSamariahadreceivedthewordofGod，sentPeterandJohntothem“；*4byimpositionofwhosehandstheythatwerebaptizedreceivedwhichbeforebythebaptismofPhiliptheyhadnotreceivedtheHolyGhost。*5ForitwasnecessaryfortheconferringoftheHolyGhostthattheirbaptismshouldbeadministeredorconfirmedbyaministeroftheword，notbyaministeroftheChurch。AndthereforetoconfirmthebaptismofthosethatPhiliptheDeaconhadbaptized，theApostlessentoutoftheirownnumberfromJerusalemtoSamaria，PeterandJohn，whoconferredonthemthatbeforewerebutbaptized，thosegracesthatweresignsoftheHolySpirit，whichatthattimedidaccompanyalltruebelievers；whichwhattheyweremaybeunderstoodbythatwhichSt。
Marksaith，“Thesesignsfollowthemthatbelieveinmyname；theyshallcastoutdevils；theyshallspeakwithnewtongues；theyshalltakeupserpents；andiftheydrinkanydeadlything，itshallnothurtthem；theyshalllayhandsonthesick，andtheyshallrecover。“*6ThistodowasitthatPhilipcouldnotgive，buttheApostlescouldand，asappearsbythisplace，effectuallydidtoeverymanthattrulybelieved，andwasbyaministerofChristhimselfbaptized：whichpowereitherChrist’sministersinthisagecannotconfer，orelsethereareveryfewtruebelievers，orChristhathveryfewministers。