The Divine Right of Deacons, Charge
The CHARGE.
AFter the proper Antecedents, a ſolemn Appeal was made to the Party Elect, in the following words, —
And now, Dear Brother, You do willingly renew your Acceptance of the Call given you by this Church; and you do ſincerely in the preſence of God and of this Aſſembly reſign your ſelf unto the Lord, for his Work, in the Office of a Deacon: Promiſing by the help of Divine Grace to be a faithful Steward in his Houſe, in all Matters that concern you, relating to the Buſineſs of ſerving Tables. —
To which an agreable Anſwer being return'd; the CHARGE was given, with the Laying on of the Hands of the Presbytery, as follows, —
BELOVED BROTHER,
YOU having now publickly dedicated your ſelf, upon the Call of this Church, unto the Office of a Deacon, We apprehend you called and ſeparated thereto by our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and … challenge for you the publick Character and Repute of a Deacon, among the People of God, as one duly appointed over this Buſineſs, according to Goſpel-Order.
In behalf of the Fraternity, we commit to you the Inſpection and Care of thoſe Tables, which are to be provided for among us: at the ſame time acknowledging our Obligations to furniſh you with what is neceſſary to that purpoſe, and reſolving every Man to diſpenſe, as of the Ability which God giveth.
And we do further, as Miniſters of Chriſt, in his Name and by his Authority, lay a ſolemn Charge upon you; requiring & exhorting you, before God, Angels, and Men, that you labour to perform the Vows, which are now upon you, and give your ſelf with a willing Mind to the Work of the Lord; ever looking to the Throne of Grace for the ſupply of the Spirit of Jeſus Chriſt.
Study to ſhew your ſelf approved unto God, and to commend your ſelf to every Man's Conſcience in the ſight of the Lord, by maintaining the Diſpoſitions and Deportments ſuted to your chriſtian Character and Office-Relation.
Let a ſenſe of the Diſtinction put upon you in the Church of Chriſt, only ſerve to promote your Humility, and Self-Abaſement. — And any Difficulties you may be under the Apprehenſion of, let them not diſcourage, but rather inflame your Zeal, and quicken your Application.
Make it your Solicitude to be a faithful and wiſe Steward; giving to every one their reſpective Portions in due ſeaſon, without Partiality and without Hypocriſy. Watch in all things, to diſcharge the Truſt repoſed in you: and let none of the Tables committed to your Care, be neglected. In particular let the poor Saints be ſeaſonably miniſtred unto, and in juſt Proportions. Be pitiful; be courteous; uſe Hoſpitality without grudging. As you ſhall receive the Gift, ſo miniſter the ſame, as a good Steward of the manifold Grace of God.
Make Conſcience thus duly to attend your Office: and ſtudy to adorn it at all times by your good Converſation in Chriſt; being exemplarily grave, ſober, and temperate in all things; meek, patient, and ſelf-denying; kind, generous and charitable; true & honeſt; pious and devout; holding the Myſtery of the Faith in a pure Conſcience, and ruling well your own Houſe. Let no Man deſpiſe you: but be a Pattern of good Works.
We give you Charge before GOD, and the Lord JESUS CHRIST, and the Elect Angels (who ſtand by as Witneſſes to this ſolemnity) that you obſerve theſe things; ſtudying in every Regard to uſe your Office well, and to walk worthy of your holy Vocation.
And if you thus do, know and believe it, you will purchaſe to your ſelf a good Degree: and when Chriſt, who once came, not to be miniſtred unto, but to miniſter, ſhall appear the ſecond time, revealed from Heaven, with his mighty Angels, to be glorified in his Saints; you ſhall appear with him in Glory, and receive the unperiſhable Crown of Life, which our Lord hath promiſed to his faithful Servants.
That it may be thus, we ſhall now commend you to the Grace of God, for the work unto which He hath called you. —
FINIS.
ERRATA.
PAg. 8. line 32. read, one —.
P. 13. l. 12 r. the confirming of his Goſpel by Miracles.
P. 29. l. 28. r. wiſely conſider —.
P. 33. l. 29. r. Office —.
End of the text · Thomas Foxcroft, The Divine Right of Deacons (1731)