of hands in every congregation, that is, by the suffrage of the
people, which was also given in some of those cities by the
ballot. And though it may be shown that the apostles ordained
some by the laying on of hands, it will not be shown that they
did so in every congregation.

Excommunication, as not clearly provable out of the
Scripture, being omitted, the second part of the order implies
and establishes a national religion; for there be degrees of
knowledge in divine things; true religion is not to be learned
without searching the Scripture; the Scriptures cannot be
searched by us unless we have them to search; and if we have
nothing else, or (which is all one) understand nothing else but a
translation, we may be (as in the place alleged we have been)
beguiled or misled by the translation, while we should be
searching the true sense of the Scripture, which cannot be
attained in a natural way (and a commonwealth is not to presume
upon that which is supernatural) but by the knowledge of the
original and of antiquity, acquired by our own studies, or those
of some others, for even faith comes by hearing. Wherefore a
commonwealth not making provision of men from time to time,
knowing in the original languages wherein the Scriptures were
written, and versed in those antiquities to which they so
frequently relate, that the true sense of them depends in great
part upon that knowledge, can never be secure that she shall not
lose the Scripture, and by consequence her religion; which to
preserve she must institute some method of this knowledge, and
some use of such as have acquired it, which amounts to a national
religion.