Nor was this a temporary institution, for that season, and so the officers appointed extraordinary, but it was to abide in the church throughout all generations; for, — 1. The work itself, as a distinct work of ministry in the church, was never to cease; it was to abide for ever : " The poor ye shall have always with you," 2. The reason of its institution is perpetual, namely, that the pastors of the churches are not sufficient in themselves to attend unto the whole work of praying, preaching, and this ministration. 3. They are afterward, not only in this church at Jerusalem, but in all the churches of the Gentiles, reckoned among the fixed officers of the church, Phil. i. 1. And, 4. Direction is given for their continuation in all churches, with a prescription of the qualifications of the per- sons to be chosen and called unto this office, 1 Tim. iii. 8-10, 12, 13. 5. The way of their call is directed, and an office committed unto them : " Let them be first proved, then let them use the office of a deacon."" 6. A promise of acceptance is annexed unto the diligent discharge of this office, verse 13.
Hence those who afterward utterly perverted all church-order, takino- out of the hands and care of the deacons that work which
OF DEACONS. 1 47
was committed to them by the Holy Ghost in the apostles, and for which end alone their office was instituted in the church, assignino- other work unto them, whereunto they are not called nor appointed yet thought meet to continue the name and the pretence of such an office, because of the evident institution of it unto a continuation. And whereas, when all things were swelling with pride and ambi- tion in the church, no sort of its officers contenting themselves with their primitive institution, but striving by various degrees to some- what in name and thing that was high and aloft, there arose from the name of this office the meteor of an archdeacon, with stransfe power and authority, never heard of in the church for many ages, this belongs unto the mystery of iniquity, whereunto neither the Scripture nor the practice of the primitive churches doth give the least countenance. But some think it not inconvenient even to sport themselves in matters of church order and constitution. . This office of deacons is an office of service, which gives not any authority or power in the rule of the church; but being an office, it gives authority with respect unto the special work of it, under a general notion of authority; that is, a right to attend unto it in a peculiar manner, and to perform the things that belong thereunto. But this right is confined unto the particular church whereunto they do belong. Of the members of that church are they to make their collections, and imto the members of that church are they to ad- minister. Extraordinary collections from or for other churches are to be made and disposed by the elders, Acts xi. 30.
Whereas the reason of the institution of this office was, in general, to free the pastors of the churches who labour in the word and doc- trine from avocations by outward things, such as wherein the church is concerned, it belongs unto the deacons not only to take care of and provide for the poor, but to manage all other affairs of the church of the same kind; such as are providing for the place of the church-assemblies, of the elements for the sacraments, of collecting, keeping, and disposing of the stock of the church for the mainte- nance of its officers and incidences, especially in the time of trouble or persecution. Hereon are they obliged to attend the elders on all occasions, to perform the duty of the church towards them, and re- ceive directions from them. This was the constant practice of the church in the primitive times, until the avarice and ambition of the superior clergy enclosed all alms and donations unto themselves; the beginning and progress whereof is excellently described and traced by Paulus Sarpius in his treatise of matters beneficiary.
That maintenance of the poor which they are to distribute is to be collected by the voluntary contributions of the church, to be made ordinarily every first day of the week, and as occasion shall require in an extraordinary manner, 1 Cor. xvi. 1, 2. And this contribu-
148 TRUE NATURE OF A GOSPEL CHURCH.
tion of the church ought to be, — 1. In a way of bounty, not spar- ingly, 2 Cor. ix. 5-7; 2. In a way of equality, as unto men's abi- Hties, chap. viii. 13, 14; 3. With respect unto present successes and thriving in affairs, whereof a portion is due to God, " As God hath prospered hiin," 1 Cor, xvi. 2; 4. With willingness and free- dom, 2 Cor. viii, 12. Wherefore it belongs unto the deacons, in the discharge of their office, — 1. To acquaint the church with the present necessity of the poor; 2. To stir up the particular members of it unto a free contribution, according unto their ability ; 3. To admonish those that are negligent herein, who give not according to their proportion, and to acquaint the elders of the church with those who persist in a neglect of their duty.