Certain Observations, Section 10
SECTION X.
HAving ſhewed in the former Treatiſe, what Officers are unlawfull, ſpringing up with Antichriſt, and therfore in all reaſon to die with him. Now leſt any ſhould conceiu we herein would put all o…t of order. It will be exped…ent to ſhew ſuch offices, as Chr…s;t hath left …n his Church for the good of mens bodi…s, which are a cording unto the…r neceſſities to be diſ…buted …nto. E ther men want outward meanes for wh ch D…acons are appointed: or are weak and ſickly, or t…avelling ſtrangers, and need attendance; for tha… end the Lord hath appointed Widdows.
1 For D…acons, Act. 6, we hauehave the inſtitution div…nely expreſſed; the Apoſtles though carefull to ſtill all complaints, yet having greater care of mens ſoules would not be hindr…d in the Miniſtery of the Word, know…ng and affirming that the preaching of the Goſpell, is the higheſt work of the Miniſtery. Where men may obſerue that conſc…onable and w…ſe Min…ſt…s, that ſeek to doe the r duty to the Lords l…king, w ll not ad…oyn other offices to the M…n…ſtery of the Word. For men receiue grace but for th s, or that Calling; and one will hinder an other, be men never ſo provident. But by the way, leſt any ſhould think Conſtables, or Churchwardens, or the like, ſuffic…ent enough for this buſineſſe: as the Apoſtles we…e moſt carefull of their own Call ng, ſo doe they teach an excellent courſe for the proviſion of the poore, to chooſe men of good report, full of the Holy Ghoſt and of wi…edom, which they might ſet over this buſineſſe. Thi… being very gratefull and acceptable to the whole Aſſembly, they ſet ſeven before the Apoſtles, who by impoſition of hands and p…ayer ordained them, and admitted them into this office: which greatry and wonderfully furthereth the Goſpell, as it is the nature and property of all Gods ordinances, that comming together they may further one another, & the cō mon good which men receiu by thē; whence we hauehave the neceſſity of this ordinance of God, leſt the Miniſt…r ſhould be hindred in his calling. 2 The inſtitution by the cōmon co…ſent of the Apoſtles, which now b…nds all in the new Teſt. they being the foundation of the church of the Gentils. 3 Election by the church, and ordination by the Apoſtles: and 4 the benefit ar…ſing hence. This place is ſo plain, that me thinks an ingenuous heart, that loues the truth, & wayes of Chr…ſt, & reverenceth the min…ſtry of the Apoſtles, ſhold not cav…l…, but yeeld willingly hereunto. For what the Apoſtles taught the people to doe, Chriſt had cōmanded afore, Mat. 28.21. For they in their Miniſte…y could not erre.
OnelyOnly one exc…ption may be made. That if this were ſo n…dfull an Ordinance, then why did they not teach …t the ch…rch afore? The Anſwer is plain. 1 Becauſe the Lord would hauehave men to ſee the want of this ordinance of God, that ſo they m…ght diſcern the neceſſity of it, and not think they were burthened with more Officers then need requires. 2 H th…to the church was but newly gathe…ed, and as ſoon as …t came to be inc…eaſ…d, ſo ſoon t…ey appoint…d this Office.
A ſecond g…ound is that, 1 Tim. 3.8, where the Apoſtle ſets down as of Miniſters ſo of Deacons, what men they ought to be, honeſt, &c. Th…s belongs to us, as well as the former, of Miniſt…rs. 2 The Apoſtle directly affirmes, that T…mothy according to his direct on ſhould carry himſe…ſe in the houſe of God, which is the Church of the living God, and the pillar and ground of truth, v. 15: which glorious titles, why are they added, but to ſhew that no man ſhould dare to come and ex…cute any office in the houſe of God, ſaue ſuch as were called and fitted therunto. 2 That the Min…ſters that would preſerue the church pure, muſt carefully tend to the choiſe of ſuch officers, as are found both for doctrine and manners. 3 That no man ſhould dare to alter any order, or remoue or h…nder any office God hath appointed, who in ſpeciall manner is Lord of this Congregation and Aſſembly: From whence the reſt of the world are to learn that truth they hauehave in matters of Religion. And it is memorable, that Timothy needeth direction how to govern the Church being ſo excellent an inſtrument: Doth not this ſufficiently proue that …o man can govern the church though he were an Evangeliſt, except he hauehave direction even in that ſpeciality, from the Lord himſelfe, by meanes of them that were immediately taught by him? Therfore let no man dare to goe againſt this inſtitution of the Apoſtle, except he can ſhew better warrant or higher authority to exempt him from theſe canons, then Paul had to binde to obedience.
A third Ground, in which we will be ſhorter, is that Rom. 12, hee that diſtributeth in ſimplicity, that is truſtily, without reſpect of perſons. This therefore being one of the offices (not duties) and callings, there the Apoſtle ſhews both that they ought to be in the church, and how to execute their places, that they ſhould know their callings, and be content with the ſame, ſtudying to doe ſervice in the ſame, which is the beſt meanes for unity, and to prevent the manifold diſtractions, which intermedling each with others place, and office brings.
A fourth ground is, 1 Cor. 12.28, where theſe officers are called helps.
Fifthly, The planting of them in every church, as appears, Phil. 1.1.
Sixthly, the continuance of them long in their own nature, which is to diſtribute, teaching onelyonly when the Lord fits them in a ſpeciall manner for the ſame.
Grounds of theſe are, beſides ſuch as are mentioned before. 1 The Lord takes care both for ſoules and bodies of men, and therfore inſtitutes ſuch offices peculiarly ſerving for that purpoſe. Becauſe there is no ſuch office and calling, it is impoſſible things ſhould be ſo well ordered, & provided for.
2 Becauſe the hearts of Gods children may be the more free from feare, and with more dilligence follow their own callings, having men of ſuch graces to provide for the poore.
3 That the Church may be the more inriched with heavenly and ſpiritual bleſſings; for ſhe receiues grace and gifts for the diſcharge of each calling.
4 That men may be more willingly ſtirred ud to help the poor, and needy, conſidering that the Lord hath appointed a ſpeciall office for that purpoſe.
5 That there ſhould be no complaints, but that all the poore might be comforted againſt their poverty and wants.
The ſecond kind of Offices …s the Widow, called Diaconeſſes, of which much needs not to be ſpoken: OnelyOnly conſider, 1 Tim. 5, where the Apoſtles ſhews what ſort of widdows he would hauehave choſen, both for religion, converſation, and yeares; where it may appear, theſe were not choſen onelyonly to receiue but to doe ſome good. The Apoſtle reprehends idleneſſe, wherfore he doth not appoint them only to receiu, but to doe ſome ſervice. 2 Why ſhould he require ſuch an age, except they were to attend ſtrangers? in performance of which duty he would not hauehave the leaſt ſuſpition of uncleanneſſe to fall out, as much as may be. This is firm, for other widdowes wanting meanes muſt be provided for by the Church, as well as theſe.
2 This Office is ſet down, Rom. 12, Shee that ſheweth mercy with cheerfulneſſe; their office theefore was to be the inſtruments of the church in ſhewing mercy to them that were ſick, or travellers.
3 Rom. 16, Phebe was ſervant, and Miniſter of the Church of Cenchrea, now women could not exerciſe any publique office in the congregation.
The grounds and reaſons of this are, beſides the ſame with the former: 1 Wiſedom, to imploy ſuch, as being to receiue maintainance, from the church, are fit for nothing but th s, and fitteſt for th s. 2 That none may lack any thing for their good and preſervation. 3 That men may be the rather incouraged to goe about the Churches buſineſſes, having ſuch to attend them.
This kinde of diſcipline, though it ſeem ſtrange and novellous, becauſe it hath been ſo long omitted, through the corruption of men in times of Popery, yet plain reaſon ſhewes it every way moſt fitting and profitable. For 1 This expreſſeth moſt liuel…ly the ca…e and watchfull eie of Gods ſpeciall providence towards every member and part of the church. 2 This impoſeth on the Paſtors ſufficiency of gifts, holy carriage, neceſſary reſidence, diligence in preaching, which are the very life of the Church.