On Prince Edward Island spective offices by prayer and fasting and "the lay¬ ing on of the hands" of those already in office before them. In this way, it is evident, were the seven deacons just alluded to, set apart or invested with office in the early church at Jerusalem . Then the twelve called the multitude of disciples unto them and said, "It is not reason that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Wherefore brethren look ye out among you seven men of honest re¬ port, full of the Holy Ghost and of wisdom whom we may appoint over this business." Then the multi¬ tude, we are told, being pleased with the request, choose seven men and placed them before the apos¬ tles, who, when they had prayed, laid their hands on them. And as the Deacons were thus set apart so also was the other class of office bearers appointed in a similar manner. In short, there is not a single instance of ecclesiastical ordination, whether of Bishops or Deacons, the particulars of which are anywhere described in the New Testament, which was not performed in the exact manner which has been now stated, that is, with fasting and prayer and the laying on of the hands of those who had already preceded them in office; and it is further abundantly evident that none were ever permitted to take upon themselves either of these offices by their own personal act, or without having been thus formally set apart by others already invested with due authority to that end. The pointed injunction given by Paul to Timothy ought certainly to be strictly observed on all similar occasions on which 199