DISCOURSE II. 149 every one according to their need." But Acts vi. 1, 3, When the disciples were multiplied, the elders could not take care of all the poor therefore the order of deacons was instituted in the next verse ; and we find in Acts xi. 30. That the elders, or ministers, were not utterly divested of all power or care of the contributions, for Paul and Barnabas themselves received the contributions of the church at Antioch, to be disposed of to the poor saints in Judea : And Acts xii. 25. Barnabas and Saud are said to returnfrom Jerusalem, having fa filled this service, znr S,aeoveav, this work of a deacon, as it is in the original. So that as the ruling elders probably are helps in government,, "as the teachers are helps in doctrine and catechising, so'the deacons are -helps to the pastor in the management of all the outward and temporal affairs that relate to the church's welfare. Now if these things are so, the followingconsequences will arise 1. That in churches which are very small, there is no ab- solute necessity of such officers, as ruling elders or deacons : for the pastor may perform all the services necessary in that church, with some very little assistance from the brethren, at,such special occasions, wherein his own modesty may excuse' him, or his other labours prevent him. It is plain the deacons were not chosen, till " disciples were multiplied." 2. As pastors and ruling elders are not utterly divested of the care.of the poor by the institution of deacons, so the deacons ought not to determine any thing of considerable importance, without consulting the elders, as I have hinted before ; nor in affairs of this kind of the biggest moment, ought any thing to be 'determined by elders and deacons, without the cognizance and approbation of the church, for in these temporal things we are all but stewards of what the church entrusts us with. 3. Hence perhaps we may borrow another argument for the extent of the deacon's care, that is, that it reaches to all those things of a temporal nature, wherein the brethren of the church '. may help the elders ; for this is the very design of the deacon's office, lest the elders, or ministers of the church, might be too much interrupted in their- " continual attendance on the word and prayer ;" and especially where there are no ruling elders chosen to assist the pastor or teacher, in managing church affairs, the care of the deacons seem still to be more extensive for the help of the pas- tor. And perhaps the word helps, 1 Cor. xii. 29. may have some reference to these offices of ruling-elders and deacons. iii. The duration of this office. Doubtless it was designed to continue throughout all ages of the church, which appears rom these two reasons : T. The objects of their care always continue. The poor ye have always with you ; John xii. 8. And ye shall always have x3
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