SERFS. IX. WITH ITS DUTIES AND ADVANTAGES. 135 prayer;" Acts vi. 4. and to exhort and govern the flock, not by their own will, nor by rules of their own inven- tion, but only by the general rules that Christ has given, which must be applied to particular cases by their pru- dence, and in matters of moment they should do nothing without the consent of the society. What the difference is betwixt pastors and teachers, and whether there be any elders who only are called to rule, but not in a stated manner to teach or administer ordinances in the church, I cannot now tarry to enquire or determine. The other officers are called deacons, the institution whereofyou find in Acts vi. 1 -6. and whose business it is to take care of the poor, and serve tables, that is, to see that the table of the Lord, the table of the poor, and the table of the minister be supplied; for the apostle informs us that the poor must be relieved, and they which preach the gospel must live of the gospel, so has the Lord ordained;" 1 Cor. ix. 14. and other, things which relate to the convenience of such a society in their public meeting, are generally supposed to come under the care of the deacons'. When achristian society is furnished with such officers, it seems to have every thing within itself that is necessary to the being or well-being of a church of Christ. Here are all things that are needful, which are within the power of man, for the preservation of piety and purity among them, and for the continuance of the sanie reli- gion with decency and honour in a constant succession, * Now all these officers must he chosen by the church. Whatsoever may be pretended to be done by the apostles themselves, or what direc- tio ns soever are supposed to be given to Timothy or Titus toward the settling of churches, or ordaining of officers, by virtue of their extraordi- nary gifts in the primitive times, without an explicit declaration of the choice of the people recorded, yet there is no authority given to any per- son that I can find, to maké themselves, or ahy other persons elders or. deacons in a particular church, without their free consent: And indeed in those very primitive days, the choice of the peoplewas plainly required towards the making of deacons ; Acts vi. 3. " Lookye out among you men of honest report," &c. though the apostles are said to ordain them " by prayer and imposition of hands," verse G. And in the earliest histo- ries and records we have of these matters, the people's choice or consent was required to introduce elders or bishops into a church. Nor indeed is it proper that the souls of the people, nor the church's money should be intrusted with elders or deacons imposed upon than by others. x 4
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