bute, is to be collected by the voluntary contributions of the church, to be made ordinarily every first day of the week, and as occasion shall require, in an extraordinary manner; 1 Cor. xvi. 1, 2. And this contribution of the church ought to be, (1.) In a way of bounty, not sparingly; 2 Cor. ix. 5-7. (2.) In a way of equality, as unto men's abilities; 2 Cor. viii. 13, 14. (3.) With respect unto present successes, and thriving in affairs, whereof a portion is due to God; 'as God hath prospered him;' 1 Cor. xvi. 2. (4.) With willingness and freedom; 2 Cor. viii. 12. vii. Wherefore it belongs unto the deacons in the discharge of their office, (1.) To acquaint the church with the present necessity of the poor. (2.) To stir up the particular members of it unto a free contribution according unto their ability. (3.) To admonish those that are negligent herein, who give not according to their proportion; and to acquaint the elders of the church with those who persist in a neglect of their duty.

The consideration of the state of the poor, unto whom the contributions of the church are to be administered, belongs unto the discharge of this office. As, (1.) That they are poor indeed, and do not pretend themselves so to be, for advantage. (2.) What are the degrees of their poverty, with respect unto their relations and circumstances, that they may have suitable supplies. (3.) That in other things they walk according unto rule. (4.) In particular, that they work and labour according to their ability; for he that will not labour must not eat at the public charge. (5.) To comfort, counsel, and exhort them unto patience, submission, contentment with their condition, and thankfulness; all which might be enlarged and confirmed, but that they are obvious.

The qualifications of persons to be called unto this office, are distinctly laid down by the apostle, 1 Tim. iii. 8—13. Upon the trial, knowledge, and approbation of them, with respect unto these qualifications, their call to this office consists. (1.) In the choice of the church. (2.) In a separation unto it by prayer and imposition of hands; Acts vi. 3.5,6. And the adjuncts of their ministration are, (1.) Mercy, to represent the tenderness of Christ towards the poor of the flock; Rom. xii. 8. (2.) Cheerfulness, to relieve the spirits of them that receive, against thoughts of being troublesome and burdensome to others. (3.) Diligence and faithfulness,

by which they purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.'

It remains only, that we inquire into some few things relating unto this office, and those that are called unto it. As,

1. What is the meaning of the apostle, where he affirms, that the deacons, in the discharge of their office, Baluòv śavroïç kaλòv Ṭeptocouvrai, 1 Tim. iii. 13. do purchase or procure unto themselves a good degree.' Baluòs is a step, a degree, a seat a little exalted, and metaphorically it is applied to denote dignity and authority. This good degree, which deacons may obtain, is in the judgment of most, the office of presbytery. This they shall be promoted unto in the church. From deacons they shall be made presbyters. I cannot comply with this interpretation of the words. For, (1.) The office of presbytery is called kaλòv čpyov, ‘a good work,' no where kaλòs Baluòs, 'a good degree.' (2.) The difference between a deacon and a presbyter is not in degree, but in order. A deacon made a presbyter is not advanced unto a farther degree in his own order; but leaves it for another. (3.) The diligent discharge of the work of a deacon is not a due preparation for the office of the presbytery, but an hinderance of it; for it lies wholly in the providing and disposal of earthly things, in a serving of the tables of the church, and those private of the poor: but preparation for the ministry consists in a man's giving himself unto study, prayer, and meditation.

I shall only give my conjecture on the words; the apostle seems to me to have respect unto church-order, with decency therein, in both these expressions, shall purchase to themselves a good degree,' 'and great confidence in the faith :' Baluòs is of the same signification with Baluis, which is a seat raised in an assembly to hear or speak. So saith the Schol. on Soph. (Ed. ὁ τόπος ἔνθα ἡ ἐκκλησία ἐγένετο, βαθμίσιν ἦν κύκλῳ διειλημμένος, ἄλλαις ἐπ' ἄλλαις· ἔνθα οἱ συνελθόντες πάντες καθήμενοι ἀνημποδίστως ἠκροῶντο τοῦ ἑσταμένου ἐν μéo. The place where the assembly (or church) met, was divided round about with seats in degrees, some above others, where all that met might without trouble hear him that stood in the midst as they sate.' And countenance is given hereunto by what is observed concerning the custom of sitting in the Jewish synagogues. So Ambrose; Tra

ditio est Synagogæ, ut sedentes disputarent, seniores dignitate in cathedris, subsequentes in subselliis, novissimi in pavimento; 'It is the tradition or order of the synagougue, that the elders in dignity (or office) should discourse sitting in chairs; the next order on forms or benches, and the last on the floor.' So speaks Philo before him; siç iɛpoùs àpi νούμενοι τόπους καθ ̓ ἡλικίας ἐν τάξεσιν ὑπὸ πρεσβυτέροις νεοὶ Kaliιovraι, 'when we meet in sacred places,' places of divine worship, 'the younger sort according to their quality sit in orders under the elders.' And this James the apostle hath respect unto in the primitive assemblies of the Christian Jews. For reproving their partiality in accepting of men's persons, preferring the rich immoderately before the poor, he instanceth in their disposing of them unto seats in their assemblies. They said unto the rich man, où kálov ☎de καλῶς, sit thou here in a good place ; that is, in βάθμῳ καλῷ, 'in the best degree;' and to the poor, 'stand thou there' on the floor, or sit at my footstool,' without respect unto those other qualifications whereby they were to be distinguished. Wherefore the apostle having respect unto church assemblies, and the order to be observed in them, the kaλòs ßalμòç here intended, may signify no more but a place of some eminency in the church assemblies, which is due unto such deacons, where with boldness and confidence they may assist in the management of the affairs of the church, which belongs unto the profession of the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

If any shall rather think that both of the expressions do signify an increase in gifts and grace; which is a certain consequence of men's faithful discharge of their office in the church, wherein many deacons of old were eminent unto martyrdom, I shall not contend against it.

2. Whereas there are qualifications expressly required in the wives of deacons, as that they should be 'grave, not slanderous, sober, faithful in all things;' 1 Tim. iii. 12. which is to be considered before their call to office; supposing that any of them do fall from the faith, as becoming Papists, Socinians, or Quakers, whether their husbands may be continued in their office?

Answer 1. He who in his own person faithfully dischargeth his office, may be continued therein; yea, though his wife

should be actually excommunicated out of the church. 'Every one of us must give an account of himself unto the Lord.' He rejects us not for what we cannot remedy. The sinning person shall bear his own judgment. 2. Such an one ought to take care, by virtue of his authority as a husband, that as little offence as possible may be given to the church by his wife, when she loseth the qualification of not being a slanderer, which is inseparable from such apostates. 3. May a deacon be dismissed from his office wholly, after he hath been solemnly set apart unto it by prayer?

Ans. 1. The very end of the office being only the convenience of the church and its accommodation, the continuation of men in this office is to be regulated by them. And if the church at any time stand not in need of the ministry of this or that person, they may, upon his desire, discharge him of his office. 2. Things may so fall out with men, as unto their outward circumstances, with respect unto either their persons in bodily distempers and infirmities, or their condition in the world, as that they are not able any longer to attend unto the due discharge of this office; in which case they ought to be released. 3. A man may be solemnly set apart unto a work and duty by prayer, for a limited season, suppose for a year only; wherefore this doth not hinder but that a man on just reasons may be dismissed at any time from his office, though he be so set apart unto. it. 4. A deacon, by unfaithfulness and other offences, may forfeit his office, and be justly excluded from it, losing all his right unto it, and interest in it, and therefore on just reasons may be dismissed wholly from it. 5. For any one to desert his office through forwardness, covetousness, sloth, or negligence, is an offence and scandal which the church ought to take notice of. 6. He who desires a dismission from his office, ought to give an account of his desires and the reasons of them unto the church, that the ministry which he held may be duly supplied, and love continued between him and the church.

4. How many deacons may there be in one congregation? Ans. As many as they stand in need of, for the ends of that ministry; and they may be at all times increased, as the state of the church doth require; and it is meet that there should always be so many, as that none of the poor be

neglected in the daily ministration, nor the work be made burdensome unto themselves.

5. What is the duty of the deacons towards the elders of the church?

Ans. Whereas the care of the whole church in all its concernments is principally committed unto the pastors, teachers, and elders, it is the duty of the deacons in the discharge of their office; 1. To acquaint them from time to time with the state of the church, and especially of the poor, so far as it falls under their inspection. 2. To seek and take their advice in matters of greater importance relating unto their office. 3. To be assisting unto them in all the outward concerns of the church.

6. May deacons preach the word and baptize authoritatively by virtue of their office?

Ans. 1. The deacons, whose office is instituted, Acts vi. and whose qualifications are fixed, 1 Tim. iii. have no call unto, or ministerial power in these things. The limitation of their office, work, and power, is so express, as will not admit of any debate. (2.) Persons once called unto this office, might of old in an extraordinary manner, may at present in an ordinary way, be called unto the preaching of the word; but they were not then, they cannot be now, authorized thereunto by virtue of this office. 3. If a new office be erected under the name of deacons, it is in the will of them by whom it is erected,' to assign what power unto it they please.

CHAP. X.

Of Excommunication.

THE power of the church towards its members (for it hath nothing to do with them that are without) may be referred unto three heads: 1. The admission of members into its society. 2. The rule and edification of them that belong unto it. 3. The exclusion out of its society of such as obstinately refuse to live and walk according unto the laws and rules of it. And these things belong essentially and