SECT. IV.

The rest of the Inftances wherein Reafon and Revelation agree in Matters of focial Worship.

UT it is Time now to proceed to the Eighth Inftance of Church-Affairs, and fhew how far the common Senfe and Reafon of Mankind concur with the Revelation of the New Teftament in this Matter.

VIII. The Light of Reafon further teaches us, that Perfons who are fet apart for these religious Services, and whofe Time and Thoughts are to be much employed in them, that they may render public Worship useful and entertaining to the People, and who have a Charge to take Care of the Converfation of others as well as of their own, will not have much Time to fpare among the Cares and Bufineffes of this World, to provide themselves with neceffary Food and Raiment, a comfortable Subfiftence, and the

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Conveniencies of Life; and yet it is proper they should be honoured and fupported above the very lowest Ranks of the People, leaft their Miniftrations be brought into Contempt by their Poverty: And upon this Account, in all Ages and in all Nations, the very Light of Reason has directed Mankind to support and maintain their Priests, or those that minister to them in Things facred.

And does not the New Teftament and the Authority of our Saviour, by his Apoftles, decree and maintain the fame Thing, 1 Cor. ix. 13, 14? Do ye not know that they who minifter about holy Things, live of the Things of the Temple, and that both in Jewish and Gentile Nations? And they which wait at the Altar are Partakers with the Altar; even fo bath the Lord ordained, that they which preach the Gospel fhould live of the Gospel.

But let it be observed also, that tho' Chriftian Ministers should be fo fupported in temporal Things, that they may not labour under perpetual Cares and daily Anxieties, how to get Bread and Raiment for themselves and their Families, and that they may maintain their proper Authority in preaching, reproving and exhorting, and live above the Fear or Shame that may arife from Poverty and dishonourable Dependencies, yet there is no Rule nor Example in Scripture that should raise them fo far above the People in Riches or Grandeur, as to become Lords of God's Heri

tage, or tempt them to affume fovereign Dominion over their Confcience, Faithor Practice.

IX. With regard to the Poor that happen to be joined to any religious Societies whatfoever, Reafon and Humanity dictate to us, that they ought to be maintained by certain Contributions of their Neighbours, or the Towns and Cities wherein they dwell; for this is a Matter of civil Concernment, and a fort of natural Duty to our Fellows, as Man is a fociable Creature.

But if the civil Society or Place where they dwell, does not take Care to maintain them, and especially if they are neglected, because they do not profess the established or national Religion, Reafon tells us, it is then certainly the Duty of those who are combined in that special religious Society, to take Care of their Support. For what Pretence can a Man make to ferious Religion towards God, if he will not fhew his Love to his Neighbour, and especially to one who loves the fame God alfo? 1 John iii. 17, 18. Now that this Provifion for the Poor may naged with Regularity, Prudence, and Succefs, the Light of Nature teaches us, that one or more Perfons of the Society should be chofen, to collect fuch charitable Contributions from the Affembly, and to distribute it with Equity, Prudence and Goodness, for the Support of the Poor?

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And does not the New Testament give a plain Command, when the Care of the Poor of the Church at Jerufalem was too burdenfome for the Apostles, or Minifters of that Congregation, to chufe out Perfons for this Purpose, who were afterwards called Deacons, Acts vi? When fome of the Widows were neglected in the daily Miniftration, or charitable Supply, then the twelve Apostles faid to the Multitude of the Difciples, It is not Reafon that we should leave the Word of God and ferve Tables.-Wherefore, Brethren, look out among you Men of honeft Report, full of the Holy Ghoft and of Wisdom*, whom we may

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*It is granted that the Deacons then chofen at Jerufalem had extraordinary Gifts. Stephen was a noble Speaker, and might occafionally teach the Gospel, Philip alfo was either a Preacher then, or might use the Office of a Deacon well, and fo grow up to an Evangelist. Acts vi. 3, 8. and vii. 2, &c. and ix. 5. and thus have Power to baptize v. 38. as is intimated in 1 Tim. iii. 13. But these Powers or Gifts did not arife from their Office as Deacons. Some of them had these Gifts before, in common with Multitudes of Converts in the primitive Times: And these Gifts might perhaps fit them the better to difcern, who were proper Perfons to be fupported out of the Churches Stock, and to give a Word in Season occafionally to the Poor, of whom they had the Care. But the meer Office of Deacons, which confifts in affifting the Minifters to take Care of feeding the Poor, and of laying out the publick Money continues, when these extraordinary Gifts are ceafed, and the Characters of Perfons, fit to be chofen do not neceffarily include publick preaching: Nor do we find ♪♪álin or Aptness to teach, mentioned among the Characters of a Deacon.

appoint over this Bufinefs. And when they had chofen them, they fet them before the Apoftles; and when they had prayed, they laid their Hands on them. There are alfo particular Directions given, what fort of Perfons fhould be chofen to this Office of Deacons; their Characters are written down at large, 1 Tim. iii. 8. &c. because it was defigned to be a standing Office in the Christian Church through all Ages.

As the Deacons are Perfons appointed by the New Testament, to take Care of the Money collected by the Church, for the Supply of the Table of the Poor, fo the fame Perfons are very naturally and properly imployed in christian Churches, to take Care also of all other Contributions of the Society, for the Supply of the Table of the Minister, and of the Lord's Table at the Holy Communion. With them also are entrusted other neceffary Expences and outward Accommodations that belong to publick Worship.

X. I add yet further, the Light of Nature and Reafon teach us, that all the Management of religious Affairs in a Society fhould be performed with a Decency and Dignity becoming the Things of God; and with due Regularity and Order, for he is a God of Order; with Gentleness alfo and Condefcenfion, Peace and Love, for Quarrels and Fightings, destroy Religion, and break all the Bonds of religious Society.

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