The due right of presbyteries, or, A peaceable plea for the government of the…

Name: The due right of presbyteries, or, A peaceable plea for the government of the…
Author: Samuel Rutherford

The due right of presbyteries, or, A peaceable plea for the government of the Church of Scotland ... by Samuel Rutherfurd ...

Samuel Rutherford 1600?–1661London: printed by E. Griffin for Richard Whittaker and Andrew Crook, 1644

[24], 468 [i.e. 768] p. · 318k words · Wing R2378 · ESTC R12822

Title page typeset from the transcription.

[figure] › Chapter 7 › Of Deacons. › Objection 4: Object. 4. But the occasion of appointing Deacons was to disburden the Pastor, who was…

Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.

[ Earlier:715–727 of 2,256

:715p. 163

Object. 4. But the occasion of appointing Deacons was to disburden the Pastor, who was to give himself wholly to preaching and praying; Ergo, at the first the Apostles and so also Pastors were Deacons; if therefore the poor be fewer then they were at Jerusalem, Act. 6. where the Church did exceedingly multiply; this Office of Deaconry was to return to the Pastors, as its prime and native subject; and therefore is not essentially and primarily an Office separated from the Pastors Office. And if the poor cease to be at all, the Office ceaseth also.

Object. 4. But the occasion of appointing Deacons was to disburden the Pastor, who was to give himselfe wholy to preaching and praying; Ergo, at the first the Apostles and so also Pastors were Deacons; if therefore the poore be fewer then they were at Ierusalem, Act. 6. where the Church did exceedingly multiplie; this Office of Deaconry was to returne to the Pastors, as its prime and native subject; and therefore is not essentially and primarily an Office separated from the Pastors Office. And if the poore cease to be at all, the Office ceaseth also.

:716p. 163–164

Ans. I cannot well deny but it is apparent from Act. 6. 4. that the Apostles themselves were once those who cared for the poor, but I deny that hence it follows in the case of fewer poor, that the Office can return to the Pastors as to the first subject, except you suppose the intervention of a divine institution to place it again in the Pastors; as the power of judging Israel was once in Samuel, but upon supposition that Saul was dead, that power cannot return back to Samuel except you suppose that God by his authority shall re-deliver and translate it back again to Samuel. For seeing God by positive institution had turned the power of judging over from Samuel into the person of Saul, and changed the same into a regal and Kingly power, that same authority who changed the power must rechange it again, and place it in, and restore it to its first subject. 2. The fewness of poor; or no poor at all, cannot be supposed,

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The due right of presbyteries, or, A peaceable plea for the government of the…

Object. 5. But if there were a community of goods, and no man lacked any thing, Act. 5. 34. there were no poor at all, and so no need of Deacons.

Object. 5. But if there were a community of goods, and no man lacked any thing, Act. 5. 34. there were no poore at all, and so no need of Deacons.

Object. 6. Distribution of earthly goods is not such a thing, at requireth a spiritual Office; for money given by a Church-officer hath no spiritual influence on the poor's necessity, more then money given by the Magistrate, or one who hath no Church-office.

Object. 6. Distribution of earthly goods is not such a thing, at requireth a spirituall Office; for money given by a Church-officer hath no spirituall influence on the poores necessity, more then money given by the Magistrate, or one who hath no Church-office.

Object. 7. The Office of a Deacon is not mentioned in the Word, and what should be his charge is scarcely holden forth in Scripture.

Object, 9. 1 Tim. 3. 9. The Deacon must hold the mystery of the faith; Ergo, he must be able to preach.

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36