The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

NOR was this a Temporary Institution for that season, and so the Officers appointed Extraordinary; but was to abide in the Church throughout all Generations. For, (1.) The Work it self, as a distinct work of Ministry in the Church, was never to cease, it was to abide for ever; The Poor you shall have always with you. (2.) The Reason of its Institution is perpetual; namely, that the Pastors of the Churches are not sufficient in themselves to attend unto the whole work of Praying, Preaching, and this Ministration. (3.) They are afterwards not only in this Church at Jerusalem, but in all the Churches of the Gentiles reckoned among the fixed Officers of the Church, Phil. 1.1. And, (4.) Direction is given for their Continuation in all Churches, with a prescription of the Qualifications of the person to be Chosen and called into this Office, 1 Tim. 3.8, 10, 11. (5.) The way of their Call is directed, and an Office committed unto them, Let them be first proved, then let them use the Office of a Deacon. (6.) A Promise of Acceptance is annexed unto the diligent discharge of this Office, Vers. 13.

HENCE those who afterward utterly perverted all Church Order, taking out of the hands and care of the Deacons, that work which was committed to them by the Holy Ghost in the Apostles, and for which End alone, their Office was Instituted ⟨p. 184⟩in the Church, assigning other Work unto them, whereunto they are not called nor appointed; yet thought meet to continue the Name and the pretence of such an Office, because of the evident Institution of it, unto a Continuation. And whereas when all things were swelling with Pride and Ambition in the Church, no sort of its Officers contenting themselves with their Primitive Institution; but striving by various degrees to some-what in Name and Thing, that was high and a-loft, there arose from the Name of this Office the Meteor of an Archdeacon, with strange Power and Authority, never heard of in the Church for many Ages: But this belongs unto the Mystery of Iniquity; whereunto neither the Scripture nor the Practice of the Primitive Churches do give the least countenance. But some think it not inconvenient even to sport themselves in matter of Church Order and Constitutions.