The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-09-22

TO the g Grecian widows.
1.-The business over which the deaconl
were appointed was the whole of this daily
ministration-the whole service Of the tables
The apostles themselves say, referring to the
whole of that charge, which they had at frs
undertaken, and for a time managed, thai
the deaeons were appointed over this busl
ness. 1t is plain, therefore, that the entire
fund formed by contributions for ecclesiasti
cal purpofes, was at first managed by the
apostles, aud by them transferred to the dea'
cons. There could at the, time have been nc
other officer, such as trustee or commit.
tee-man, appointed to any part of this charge
The whole was first placed in the apostles
hands, the whole was placed in the hands Of
the deacons when they we're ordained
These are the views which have been enter
tanned of this passage by the purest churches,
and by the greater part of the most judicous
commentators.
As ttrcs passage has very important
bearing upon our Investigations respecting
the deacons duties, few quotations, and
but few, for our space is limited, are given
from standard commentators, with the hope
that the reader will carefully examine the
passage, in the light thus reflected upon it.
These quotations are not classified; our
limits do not admit of this. They are given,
however, nearly in the order of time begin
ming with Odgen, one of the early fathers
He lived in the commencement of the third
century, little more than one hundred
years after the death of the Apostle John.
He says; The deacons preside over the
money.tables of the church, and adds, 'as
We read in the Acts of the Apostles.
" Passing over many centuries, our next
quotation is from Beza, the distinguished col
league of John Calvin, in the Theological
School of Geneva. He explains the passage,
To serve tables to attend to that which
was then observed, the common table, and
the other necessities of the church.
"The Scottish Reformers, in the Second
Book of Discipline, chapter TX, are very
explicit. In the apostolic kirk, the deacons
we're appointed to collect what sum soever
was collected of the faithful, to distribute to
the necessity of the saints; so that none
lacked among the faithful. These collec
tons were not only of that which was collect
ed in manner of aims, as some suppose, but
of other goods movable aud immoveable, of
lands and possessions, the price whereof was
brought to the feet of the apostles.
Henry, on Acts vi. 10: And these
(the deacons,) must take care of the church's
stock; must review, and pay, and keep ac-
counts; must buy those things which they
had need of against the feast, John xii. 29,)
and attend to all those things which are ne
cessary, an Ordine ad spiritualSa, and in or
der, and no person or thing be neglected
"Scott, Comm, on Acts vi. 10 y ITO
lay out their contributions in the most salts
factory manner, both among the poor and in
other necessary expenses
"Guyse, (i6ia:) 'As all the necessary ex
penseS for carrying on the worship of God,
and as the apostles themselves, as well as the
poor, were doubtless to be supported out of
the common stock, have given such para
phrase as may take in the Lords table, and
the tables of the apostles
"Dick, (Lect. G. y 1t is true, indeed, as
the design of the institution was not to di-
vert the attention of the apostles from the
ministry of the word, the care of the tempo
raj matters in which the church is concerned,
may be considered as belonging to deacons.
'sDr. Miller, of Princeton I" 1t has been
supposed by many that the phrase, serving
tables, in the history of the institution of
the deacon's off ,e, had reference either to
the Lords table, or to the overseeing and
supplying the tables of the poor, or perhaps
both. But am inclined to believe that this
is an entire mistake. The word trapsSa sig
ni6es, indeed, table; but in this connexion
it seems obviously to mean money table, or
counter on which money is laid. Hence
trapezites, a money changer, or money mer-
chant. The plain meaning of Acts vi. seems
to be this It is not suitable that we should
leave the word of God, and devote ourselves
to pecuniary affairs. The passage from Ori-
gen, quoted above, is conclusive evidence Of
the soundnees of this criticism" Essay on
the Deacon, Pp. 1929
To the same effect our author cites Cal
wins Comm. on l Tim. iii. 8-13, and Inst
Bk. V. 13. Hooker's words already cited
point to the same exposition, as also Ovens
views, and DR.. ThOrnwell's.
1t ia obvious that this exposition of the re-
cord which exhibits the origin of the Office
so far as we have authentic information, mil
itates against placing over church funds any
person other than deacon. Elders are no
the proper persons to take upon them thi
charge, though their doing so may be lesI
obnoxious than the employment of commit
tees. And even if the argument in favor o
one consolidated fund in the church at Jeru
salem, used for all congregational necessities
could be set aside, still the claim of the dea
cons to control all ecclesiastical funds ant
properties might be fairly established upon
principle which is extensively used in elabO
rating the details of our Presbyterian Churcl
Government. If it be insisted CONTRARY t.
the implication of the words, as we think,
that the business" to which the deacon
were appointed was only the care of tn
poor and widows, yet that particular fun
might justly be regarded as a specimen o
the class financial, which, being confded
the deacon, serves to direct US in the commit
ting of other like matters to his charge, ur
less we are otherwise instructed elsewhere
The principle is commonly recognized by tn
best Presbyterians authorities, that systel
of church government is given in the Ne
Testament, in general principles, certain ez
amples under them being given also to illu'
trate their application. 1t is only by keeI
ing this maxim in view that We can construt