This has been supposed to refer to his ordination, and the memorandum occurring 29th July, 1653, to his election. But a delay of more than three years between the choice and settlement of a pastor scarcely admits of a satisfactory explanation. The expression, “_made pastor_ by the church,” moreover, raises a strong presumption that the occurrence included, if it did not refer solely to, the _election_ of a pastor. That expression would scarcely have been used with reference to the mere ordination of an individual, previously elected to the pastoral office. {125} With Mr. Ottee’s pastorate commenced the appointment of such other officers as are sanctioned by the holy Scriptures, and the regular administration of christian ordinances to his flock. With reference to these subjects, the church book contains some memoranda, which will be perused with interest by those connected with the church or congregation. “December 29th, 1656. Deacons chosen. Wm. Cutlove & Edmond Artis, were sett ap’te to attend ye office of Deacons: & from ye Lord’s day next ther is to be a weekely collec’ion putt into ther hands for ye supply of ye Lord’s table, & the table of ye (godly) poore of ye church. “December 29th, 1656 It was then agreed that ye Lord’s Supper be administred upon ye 18th day of January next, & yt ye Thursday before be kept by ye church by fastinge & prayer, in order to a p’paration unto yt ordinance: wch was accordingely observed. The p’paration day kept at or brother Artises, Jan. 15th, and ye supper celebrated at Mr. Clearke’s house, upon the Lord’s day, Jan. 18th, 1656, wch was ye first tyme of administration of yt ordinance amongst us. “Baptisme first administred amongst us. At our monthly meetinge, being 28th of January, 1656, {127a} kept at or pastour’s house, the sacrament of baptisme was first administred amongst us by or pastour, Mr. Ottye.” {127b} The deacons were evidently, according to the examples recorded in the New Testament, “men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom,” chosen by the brethren, and set apart to serve the table of the Lord, and that of the poor members; to take charge, in a word, of the secular affairs of the church, while the pastor gave himself “continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” {128a} They found no description of the deacon’s office, as a gradation in the christian ministry, or as preliminary to it; or as continuing “for the space of a whole year;” or as including the administration of baptism and the duty of preaching, subject to the approbation of a bishop. They discarded these human inventions, and found their highest satisfaction in an adherence to the precedents of the New Testament.