DISCOURSE II. 153 3. The office of a deaconmust be performed with prudence anddiscretion Distinguishing who are poor indeed from those who are covetous and pretendedly poor ; " that the church be not charged more than isnecessary ;" 1 Tim. v. 16. 4. With faithfulness to the church and to the poor, and to théministry : For in all cases it is required of stewards that they be faithful; 1 Cor. iv. 2. Distributing the contributions for the several services of the church, according to the design for which it is given by the church, is their duty. 5. iVithout partiality. Not neglecting any p3rt of their office, or the service of any of thése tables to which they are called, but laying by all carnal respect; 1 Tim. v. 21. Distri- buting to the poor, according to the degree of their poverties and necessities, whether these be constant or occasional : And this must be done with an impartial view, without preferring one be- fore another, upon any selfishor carnal considerations. 6. With chearfulness and not grudgingly ; Horn. xii. 8. " He that sheweth mercy, let him do it with chearfulness, he that ruleth, with diligence ; which words seem to be spoken con- cerning the deacons and elders of a church. Theyought not to be lavish of the church's money, nor ought they to be fond of saving, and too thrifty, lest the poor be grieved, and the church dishonoured by the hardships which any of their members suffer. 7. With gentleness and compassion. Treating the poor kindly, in imitation of. our Lord Jesus Christ, who condescended to the meanest, and pitied the poor:Ilis servants they:are, his deacons, and he expects they should take tender careof his mem- bers, not using them roughly, nor speaking hard things to them, lest their spiritsbe broken. S. I cannot but think that occasional instructions, admoni- tions, consolations and prayers, with, and for the poor, ought to accompany the performance of a deacon's office ; for these things are in some measure the duty of every christian, as it is fre- quently intimated by St. Paul; and much more surely of those who bear an office in the church, and who are called to a more particular acquaintance with the state of it, and converse with the members of it ; and especially when it is a piece of their cha- racter, that they must hold the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience;, that is, they must be men of a good acquaintance with the great truths of the gospel, and of an umblemished cha- racter for sincerity and piety. It is certain, that as they are en- trusted with the temporalities of the church5 and know when there are any deficiences with regard to the table of the minister, or the poor, it is their duty to admonish the members, and espe- cially the rich among them to do their part toward the supply of r. their wants. It may be observed, that the first deacons had ex- traordinary gifts of the Spirit, and were eminently furnished for
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