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

Ob. 13. How do those words Act. 6. v. 7. and the word of God grew, and the number of Disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly, &c. follow upon the institution of Deacons v. 2, 3 4. 5, 6. if Deacons were not, according to their primitive institution and Office, ordained to be Preachers of the word, by whose pains the word grew?

Ob. 13. How doe those words Act. 6. v. 7. and the word of God grew, and the number of Disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly, &c. follow upon the institution of Deacons v. 2, 3 4. 5, 6. if Deacons were not, according to their primitive institution and Office, ordained to be Preachers of the word, by whose paines the word grew?

Answ. The cohesion three ways is good. 1. Because the Apostles being exonerated of serving Tables, and giving themselves to continual praying and the ministry of the word v. 2. Through the constituting of the seven Deacons the word thereby did grow (2) Satan stirred up a schism betwixt the Grecians and Hebrews, which is prejudicial to the growth of the Gospel and Church, yet the Lord being superabundantly gracious, where Satan is exceedingly malicious, will have his Gospel and Church to flourish. 3. These words v. 7. do cohere kindly with the last verse of the foregoing Chapter. v. 41. And daily in the Temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ and Ch. 6. v. 7. And the word of God increased, &c. God blessing the labours of his persecuted Apostles, and the story of the ordained Deacons is cast in by Luke upon occasion of the neglected Grecian Widows, and the growth of ⟨p. 171⟩the word could not arise from the appointing of such officers who were not to labour in the word and prayer, but employed about Tables, to the end that the Apostles might labour in the word and prayer.