The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-07-06

Synod, and to the General Assembly,
and handle the sordid dust for the pres
oyters, less they violate their vows and
their hands be polluted, and then fetch
1T back? Where were the catholic Dea-
cons when St. Paul was working in
Aquilas tent factory at Corinth? Bless
ed little man: Had he no one at Corinth
to deacon for him? But when was that
catholic order of Deacons everywhere in
the Church? 1t was not at Corinth.
Even local Deacons were not everywhere.
~. The presbyters have the proper
oversight of the whole flock and ali their
concerns. And you cannot practically
separate the secular from the spiritual
concerns of the Church. And the reason
is this. we hold that giving for pious uses
is an important part of the qOorship of
GOD, yea, that it is an indispensable part
OF our worship. Money given in fealty
to lions King is the worship of his sub
ects, as much so as prayer and singing
his praises. Now the presbyters' duty is
to superintend all that concerns the wor-
ship of God in the congregation. If So
please show hoao and a0hy pastor and
elders are excluded from the practical
management of any part of this worship
V. Besides, the presbyters who watch
for souls, and for the honor of the King
in Zion, ought to have as far as possible
an insight into the workings of all the
graces In the hearts, yes, and in the con-
duct of all their flock This necessarily
includes an insight and an oversight of
"the grace of giving" They must know
how the King fares in the hearts, yes, and
at the hands of his subjects. Can you
see clearly how you are to put the Dea-
con IN this charge exclusively and not
exclude the pastor and elders from their
office.
VI. To the presbyters belong the duty
and responsibility of deciding whom they
shall send, and where they shall send
and what must be done to spread the
gospel. No one will contend that these
questions belong to the Deacons. But
how shall presbyters wisely execute the
masters great commission if they have
not the insight and oversight of all the
gifts of the whole Church l admit that
presbyters are jointly in the several
courts, by their deliverances to instruct
their people, yes, and by lip in the pull
pit, and from house to house, to teach all
their people their duty about giving.
But when you separate the presbyters
wholly from the secular concerns of the
Church, dc you not in a good degree
silence them, or so separate their teach
lngs from the actual state of their people
as to make it less potent for good?
VII. Some one is to teach the people
all about giving. Now if the Deacons
are to manage this department they
should be able to instruct the people all
about the needs of the Church and of a
dying world, and set forth the motives
and the objects Of Christian benifcence.
Then when the Deacons are able to do
this instructing of the Church, we ought,
according to our doctrine of vocatioas, to
seize them and put them into the minis
try. 80 that when you would elevate a
Deacon from local to general office,
the Diaconate evaporates, and you have
as the residuum presbyterl
VIII. On the theory we are discussing
there will be series of subordinate dia1
conal courts or of coordinate courts.
Perhaps they might be called the Lords
temporal of the Church militant They
would be-lst, the congregation Deacon 4;
I'd, the district Deacon; 3d. the State
Deacon; and lastly the general Deacon.
You can put on an i'm to make rythm,
for to suit the isms of these last days.
Now aside from all Scripture, we have
an objection to this arrangement. It is
based upon what is known to be in man.
There is always danger of imsu6ordSna-
ton in subordinate courts, and then there
is greater danger of friction between two
coordinate courts. Men, even the best
men, are very imperfect, and for any
scheme of Church law to put the court of
Presbyters as. Deacons, stamps the whole
thing with danger Let us pause long
time before we make this new departure.
SIGMA.
The Revised Testa mept