The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

THE care of making Provision for the Poor being made in the Church an Institution of Christ, was naturally incumbent on them who were the First only Officers of the Church, that is, the Apostles. This is plain from the occasion of the Institution of the Office of the Deacons, Act. 6. The whole Work and Care of the Church being in their hands, it was impossible that they should attend unto the whole and all the parts of it in any manner. Whereas therefore they gave themselves, according to their Duty, mostly unto those parts of their Work, which were incomparably more excellent and necessary than the other, namely Preaching of the Word and Prayer; there was such a defect in this other part of ministration unto the Poor, as must unavoidably accompany the actings of humane nature, not able to apply it self constantly unto things of diverse natures at the same time. And hereon those who were concerned quickly, as the manner of all is, expressed their resentment of a neglect in somewhat an undue Order; there was a murmuring about it, Ver. 1. The Apostles hereon declared that the principal part of the Work of the Ministry in the Church, namely the Word and Prayer, was sufficient for them constantly to attend unto. Afterwards indeed Men began to think that they could do all in the Church themselves, but it was when they began to do nothing in a due manner. And whereas the Apostles chose, as their Duty, the Work of Prayer and Preaching, as that which they would and ought entirely give up themselves unto, and for the sake of that Work would deposit the care of other things on other hands; they are a strange kind of Successors unto them, who lay aside that Work which they determined to belong unto them principally and in the first place, to apply themselves unto any thing else whatever.

THE care of making Provision for the Poor being made in the Church an Institution of Christ, was naturally incumbent on them who were the First only Officers of the Church, that is, the Apostles. This is plain from the occasion of the Institution of the Office of the Deacons, Act. 6. The whole Work and Care of the Church being in their hands, it was impossible that they should attend unto the whole and all the parts of it in any manner. Whereas therefore they gave themselves, according to their Duty, mostly unto those parts of their Work, which were incomparably more excellent and necessary than the other, namely Preaching of the Word and Prayer; there was such a defect in this other part of ministration unto the Poor, as must unavoidably accompany the actings of humane nature, not able to apply it self constantly unto things of diverse natures at the same time. And hereon those who were concerned quickly, as the manner of all is, expressed their resentment of a neglect in somewhat an undue Order; there was a murmuring about it, Ver. 1. The Apostles hereon declared that the principal part of the Work of the Ministry in the Church, namely the Word and Prayer, was sufficient for them constantly to attend unto. Afterwards indeed Men began to think that they could do all in the Church themselves, but it was when they began to do nothing in a due manner. And whereas the Apostles chose, as their Duty, the Work of Prayer and Preaching, as that which they would and ought entirely give up themselves unto, and for the sake of that Work would deposite the care of other things on other hands; they are a strange kind of Successors unto them, who lay aside that Work which they determined to belong unto them principally and in the first place, to apply themselves unto any thing else whatever.