The Scripture directory for church-officers and people, or, A practical commentary upon the whole…

Who then is Paul, and who is Apollo, but Ministers by whom ye believed?

The former part of this Text hath been considered, viz. Paul's modesty and sincerity in gaining people to Christ, and not to himself. Now let's consider in what order, or rank of Causes the Apostle puts the Officers of the Church; and that is, in the Instrumental Causes. Wherein you may Observe, the Effect, viz. Faith. 2. The Manner of working it, it is by Ministry. They are not principal Agents. They are Ministers by whom you believed. The Greek word is, [Greek or Hebrew], Deacons: And this is sometimes used for a special Office in the Church, for those who had the care of the poor. Thus the Elder and the Deacon, are sometimes used for the settled Officers in the Church: but in this place and many others, the word is used largely for any Ministry or service: And so the Apostles, and Elders, and Pastors, may be called Deacons in this large sense: viz. Such who by their labours and pains, serve the Church and its good. Observe, that this word [Greek or Hebrew], as almost all the rest of the Greek words that denote the duty and quality of Church-Officers, signify no dignity or honour, but care, diligence, and all solicitude. Thus the most glorious creatures have Names, signifying their Ministry and service. The Hebrew word for the Sun, comes from a root that signifieth to serve; as also, for an Angel to be sent by way of ministration. So the simple word [Greek or Hebrew], Hesychius makes to signify, to make haste, to run to the marks end; also as a man by this much striving stirreth up dust ([Greek or Hebrew] is dust) like that of Virgil: Pulverulenta fugâ Rutuli dant signa per agros.

The former part of this Text hath been considered, viz. Paul's modesty and sincerity in gaining people to Christ, and not to himself. Now let's consider in what order, or rank of Causes the Apostle puts the Officers of the Church; and that is, in the Instrumental Causes. Wherein you may Observe, the Effect, viz. Faith. 2. The Manner of working it, it is by Ministery. They are not principal Agents. They are Ministers by whom you believed. The Greek word is, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, Deacons: And this is sometimes used for a special Office in the Church, for those who had the care of the poor. Thus the Elder and the Deacon, are sometimes used for the setled Officers in the Church: but in this place and many others, the word is used largely for any Ministry or service: And so the Apostles, and Elders, and Pastours, may be called Deacons in this large sense: viz. Such who by their labours and pains, serve the Church and its good. Observe, that this word , as almost all the rest of the Greek words that denote the duty and quality of Church-Officers, signifie no dignity or honour, but care, diligence, and all solicitude. Thus the most glorious creatures have Names, signifying their Ministry and service. The Hebrew word for the Sun, comes from a root that signifieth to serve; as also, for an Angel to be sent by way of ministration. So the simple word , Hesychius makes to signify, to make haste, to runne to the markes end; also as a man by this much striving stirreth up dust ( is dust) like that of Virgil: Pulverulenta fugâ Rutuli dant signa per agros.