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388
©rigi n a l.
THE DUTIES OF A DEACON.
[concluded.]
VI. The Missionary Cause .— This is no oilier than the,
cause of Got], anti it deserves, not only ‘the countenance, but;
the support and prayers of all God’s children, and 1 believe
it to be the duty of every Deacon, (when the pastor fails to
do it,) to bring the stihject before his church, anti urge its
claims, and ask for their contributions to aid in this grout and
good work.
I have thus, my brethren, in a disconnected wav, given
you my views with regard to (lie duties involved, anti now 1
ask your attention, while I endeavor to say a few things with
reference to “/true these duties arc to le. performed,” and
Ist. The Lord's Table. — The question is. how is that to be
supplied ? I answer, that it must •fie supplied by voluntary
contributions. 1 never have in my life seen any man or wo.
man calling themselves Christians, that would, or did contend,
that it was wrong to make collections to defray the r.xpi use
of the Lord’s table. Then as there is hut one opinion in the
world upon this part of the subject, we shall pass on to tliej
second branch of the subject.
2nd. The. Pustor's Tulle. —To my own mind, brethren,
there is no one duly more eh ally pointed out, or more express
ly enjoined in the word of God, than the one now under con
sidcration. Hut [am aware that many, very many of the
Bupt’s's in Giorgia, (hut I trust in God there are none in the
Bethel Association,) are of a contrary opinion. And from
the age and standing ot those br< thren, some of them minis
tors too. it is with timidity that I join .issue with them upon
tin's subject; and it may he possible that, from my limited
education and the Associations which J have heretofore,
formed, I nmy have been led into error. 1 have beau fro-,
quently accused of it. Poor fallen man is liable to err; he \
is liable to imbibe wrong sentiments, and from prejudice is,;
not at all times prepared todo justice to all concerned. But,,
brother chairman, thanks be to God for it, wo are not left in
the dark upon Ibis subject. We are not compelled to sub
scribe to tlic opinions of any man on earth, only so far ns I
they accord with the word of eternal truth : and for tho cor- !
redness of our opinions wo appeal to the I loly Scripture s.— .
If they do not sustain us, then will we yield them up. The
first scripture to which I shall direct your min i is to be
found in Mutt. 10: 0, 10, “Provide neither gold, nor silver,!:
nor brass, in your purses : nor scrip lor your journey, nei-jj
t'.ier two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves ; for tho work-1i
man is worthy of his meet.” As this is the passage of scrip
ture upon which my anti-missionary brethren rely so smi
guinely. lor proof to sustain their views, I hope to lie in
dulged to some length upon it. The disciples wore directed,
to indulge no anxiety ns to their subsistence and protection. 1
and to consume no time in making preparation for their jour
hey. Gold—Silver—Brass; that is, money. They werel
not to lake a scrip. l!ro. chairman, I hog the indulgence j
of this body while I relate un anecdote. 1 heal'd a good an.
ti-missionarv brother discoursing once upon the subject ot
Education, .Missions, iVc., and he took occasion to ridicule a
good brother for preaching from notes, and called him “a
breaker of God’s word.” Tho good brother shook his head,
as much as to sav, he denied the charge. Ah ! but said the;
anti, you need not deny it. Your bilde and mine say, when
we go preaching we must not take a scrip with us. and yit
you today had a scrip of paper before you, all the while you i
were preaching.” Ido not rn ntioti this anecdote becausi
I believe there is a brother or sister present that does not
kuow what scrip means. Scrip ; traveling bag for carry
ing provisions. Travelers, among tho Jews, generally car
ried their provisions with them. Their inns acre not like
ours, provided with needful food for companies of people
“Two coats” —the principal articles of ordinary dress!
among the Jews were a coat, or tunic, which was the insid;
garment; and a mantle, or robe. “Neither shoes”—that
is, no other shoes than what you have on. Mark 6:9. “B,
shod “ itli sandals.” Take the sandles,or shoes you have on;
care not to provide another pair. lam tol lby Greek schol
ars, that there was i probably no difference in meaning be-;
tween tho word which is translated shoes and that which re
translated sandals. “Nor yet staves”—that is, no other
slaves than vvliat you new have. -Mark 6: 8, mentions;
that one stall’ was permitted. Luke 9: 3, mentions that the
stall'is not to he taken. The circumstances of the case show
how the sac rid writers on this occasion are to be understood.!
For in .Mark 0; S, and Luke 9 : 3, u general direction isgiv.
cn that the apostles should lake nothing for their jc urney ;i
that is to inak > no special preparation. And why, 1 ask, were
they neither to take “money,” “ two coals,” nor more than
one pair of “shoes,” and but one “stall'.” Because the work
man was worthy of your money, coats, shoes, staves and
meat; meaning, of his entire subsistence. Thus the Sa-i
viour led his apostles to an entire dep. ndcnco on God, and
gave them an intimation that they would meet, in many in-i
stances, with a kind reception, and that by those who would
welcome them as the Messiah's heralds: their ontiro wants
would be fully supplied. Again we lind Luke makis men
tion of the same subject: Lukoil): 7, “And in tic same
house remain, eating and drinking such things'as they give :
tor the laborer is worthy of his hire.” ‘Nothing is more clean
to my mind, than that this same injunction is now resting
upon us alt to support our pastors. Paul, in writing to Tim
othy, says, “L t the elders that rule well, he counted worthy
of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and
doctrine. ’ Notice the bold ligure of Paul: “For tho scrip
tore saitli, thou shall not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the
Corn, mid the laborer is worthy of Ids hire.” Nothing can bO’
more conclusive than this, that the minister is worthy of his
support, it worth any thing at all. 1 will mention one other
4'cfereuce, and the last. Paul to tho 1 Cor. 9 ; 1-13, coni-;,
S7l|C fi-uScp.
I menees this chapter by an interrogation. Says he, “amj
1 M °t an apostle? am foot free ? have I not seen Jesus Christ;
our Lord? are hot ye my work in the Lord? If Ibe not an
apostle unto others, yet^doubtless, l am unto you: for thei
seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord. Mine answer j
to them that do examine me, is this: Have we not power to
eat and drink? Have we not power to load about a sister, a
wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the
Lord, and Cephas? Or I only and Barnabas, have not we
power to forbear working? Who gocth a warfare any timed
at his own charges? who plantelha vinyaid, and eatetli not
of the fruit thereof ? or who feedeth a flock, and eatetli aoS
of the milk of the flock? Say I these things as a man? or
saith not the law the same also? For it is written in tho law
of .Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of tho ox that
treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? Or
saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt,j
tins is written : that be that plougheth should plough in hope;
and that he that ihresheth iu hope should b ■ partaker of his
hope. If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a
great thing if we shall reap your carnal tilings? If others,
be partakers of this power over you, arc not we rather? Ne-j
verthole.-s, we have not used this power; but suffer all tilings,
lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. Do ye not know,’
that they which minister about holy things live of the things
iof the temple? and they which wait at the altar arc partakers
with the,altar?”
You may blot out, brother chairman, every other passage
in God’s holy word, and the one last cited would rivet con-
Diction upon any unprejudiced mind, that it is the bouuden
| duty of every church to support their pastor. No language
can be stronger; no figures can be drawn bdih-r than these
just read; and yet, many who cail themselves Baptists, with
all such lights before them, d< nv that the poor minister ought
to have anything at all for his preach ng, Brother chair
man, my trusts are these: 1 never desire to live in any
|church, state or government, that is unwilling to pay, volun
tarily or by taxing, an amount sufficient to <i fray liie econo
jmical expenses of the church, state or government. But;
lest 1 he tedious, 1 will proceed to the next division.
3rd. To provide far the Table of th • Poor. —We have,!
!in the firmer part of these remarks, mentioned what were
ihe qualifications of Ibeso entitled to charity at our hands;
•vo now purpose, in a brief manner, to adduce sciip'ure to
( prove that it is our duty not only to make coll ctions tor the
jpoor in this, but in other countries, and ii’l . in not sustained
I by the scriptures- then 1 abandon the grounds I have taken,
jlTho first scripture I will present for your consideration you
will find in Acts 11 : 27 —-It). “And in these davs came
prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch, and then stood up one
of them, named Agabus, ami signified !< v the spirit that there
:should he great dearth throughout all the world : which 1
came to pass in the days of Claudius CVsar.” Then the dis
ciples according to th ir ability, determined to send relief unto!
tho brethren, which dwelt in India: which also thy did,
and sent it unto tiro elders by the hands of Saul and Burnt.
! bus. - ’ But again, you will see that Saul in sundry practiced
[ duties, meinions this amongst others. “Distributing'to the
! necessities of the saints: given to hospitality,” Rom. 12: 13.
In the same book, 15: 25 — 2d. “But now 1 go unto Jeru
salem to minister unto the saints. For it hath pie re, ,1 tlieni
[Ot .Macedonia and Admin to make a certain contribution for,
; die poor saints, which areat Jm usalcni. It hath phased them,
verily, and their debtors they aro. For it’ tlio Gentiles
have been made partakers of their spiritual tilings, their duty
| is also to minister unto them in carnal things.” Wo again
call your attention to 2 Cor. D: I —B. “For as touching
the mimstering to the saints, ii is superfluous for me to
[write to you: For I know the ibrwardinss of your mind, for
which I boast of vou to them of Macedonia, that Aelmia was
ready a y-ur ago; and your zeal bath provoked verv many..
V et have 1 sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should
he in vain in this behalf; that as 1 said ye may be ready :
lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you
(iilipri pared, wo (that we say not, ye) should lie ashaim and in
*tli:s couliil ‘iit boasting. Therefore 1 thought it neccs-• v, to
• sit at the brethren, that they would go be lure you, and make
up before band your bounty, whereof ye had notice before,
that the same might bo ready us a matter of bounty, and not
as of covetousness. But this l say, he which sow'eth sparing
ly, shall reap also sparingly, and he which soweth bounti
h fully, shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as
he hath purposed in his heart,so let him give, not grudgingly,
nor of necessity : lor God loveth a cheerful giver.” Bin
again, 1 cits you to 1 Cor. 1(1: 1,2. “Now concerning;
the collection for the saints, as 1 have given orders to th
churches of Galatia, even so do ve. Upon the first dav of
the week, let every one of you lay by him in store, as God!
hath prospered him, that there be no gathering when 1 come.”
Now brethren what think you of the positions I assumed.—
1 lave I redeemed my prr mise ? I>oor do not the scriptures
: sustain the po ition, that it is our duty to suppoit our pastors ;
! and the churches, poor of the land ? I think so. Tho nexi
proposition is its connection with the ministerial office. I
lay this down as my premise -: That in order for a pastor to!
he useful to his church and 10lgregation, there should lie u
harmonious concert of action between the pastor and the!
Deacons of the church. I will illustrate this by a very!
simple figure. I will take the President of the United State.- 1
and his cabinet. The President has same important measure;
upon his mind, important to the interests of the government.
,tie assembles his cabinet, lie calls upon tho Secretary ot
State for Ids opinion, in this great matter. Well, says tin |
Secretary of State: 1 see at once the importance of tin :
measure, hut 1 could not engage in it unless all the cabinet!
are of our opinion. Well lie culls on the Secretary of the j
(Treasury for his opinion, and he answers, it is a good meas-!
ure, but you i e_>d not attempt io carry oct such measure,-;
jut.less Congress was ÜBanamous upon the subject. Well,j
he callson the Secretary of War for his opinion, and he says,
itis entirely useless to attempt any such measure unless the
people are willing for it to be adopted. He then calls on the
I {Secretary of the Navy, and he says he approves heartily of
the measure, but it is time enough the next session : no two
of the same opinion, and what is to be done ? Why the mat
ter is given up in despair; for the present at least. But
perhaps some of my brethren are at a loss to know what I
mean by the figure—what force or bearing can it have on
the present subject before us. Let us see my brethren.—
The Pastor whose soul is filled with tho welfare of Christ’s
kingdom, looks around him, and he sees nothing but the “des
titutions of Zion.” He perhaps has preached to that com
munity for one or two years, and there has been no change,
unless for the worse. The poor Minister knows his heart
and soul have been engaged, or at least bethinks so. Ha
has sown in tears; lie has wept and prayed for the church
and congregation, time and again, whan they were asleep.
But all to no purpose, and he is now made to doubt seriously
whether or not lie lias ever been called to preach the gospel,
bor if he had, surely the Lord would have in some small de
gree blessed his labours. And af;< r much praver and weep
ing, with a burning zeal, and verd owing soul be determines
to make one effort more. Well, he go. sto the church ; he
summons bis Deacons before him ; he tells them bow his
soul yearns for the church and congregation, and says to
them, my brethren, it will not do to live at this cold “and
dying rate,” we must awake out of this stupor. For the
past month, the midnight watch will testify how my soul has
bled for you. Bro. Deacon A. 8., 1 want your advice as
to the best plan for us to adopt, to bring about a glorious re
vival of religion. Well says Deacon A. !>., I (tad the im
portance of what you say, but it will be useless unless all
the deacons can agree in every particular. Ido not feel
willing to do any thing unless it was the case. Pastor: Well
Bro Deacon C. D,, let us hear your View of the Lest course
for us to pursue. Deacon C. D.: Well I have been verv
busy last week with my store, and have not thought as much
about it as I ought. But 1 think it will be needless to mako
an effort unless all the church were right, and in a proper
spirit. Pastor: Well Bro. Deacon K. F., let us hear from
you. Deacon E. F.: \Vell I can soon tell you what I think.
I know we are in a bad state. But 1 have been so much en
gaged ill my firm for the last few months that I have nai had
time to pray with my family in the morning, and frequently
too tired to do so at oigfit and (loot know how the brethren
feel, and unless the sinners about here wore more serious,
1 think it will be labor thrown away. The Minister now
with an aching heart and sinking spirit turns his eves to Dea
cin G. 11. W (-11 Bro. D aon G. 11., what shall wo hear
from you. Why I have been so busy for the last month that
1 have not had time to spare from my shop to go and see Bro.
P. S., who lias been very sick, and really 1 think the poo
pie are so busy that we had be'ter put off any effort until they
lav h.y their crops, and then it will bo time enough. Think
you mv Chairman, that cither the President or the Minister
would accomplish much under such a state of things? I
presume not. lint lot there bra conrtrt of action, and much
can be done. I admit that it is nil supposition. But sup.
pose when the minister came to the church and assembled the
Deacons around him, and whe-ti he bad made known all his
[thoughts, desires and views, with relation to the duties that
were involved in tho great work in which his soul was en
gaged. Suppose cacti Deacon had said, <> my brother, we
have anticipated your views ; We have been round to see all
the brethren ; We have pray 1 with th in, anil they have all
promised to come, praying that the Lord will meet with us
all to-morrow, and that ho wood revive iiis work of grace in
all our hearts. Oh what,a help would this he to the Pastor
of any church ! These are our own views with reference to
the subject before us—and, brethren, let them go for what
‘.hi y are Aorth. But the last proposition.
!
1 he motives luU injiuence to a discharge of that duly. —The
definition of the word motive is, “Thai which determines the
choice, that which influences to action.” My greatest fears
have always been, that i was influenced from improper mo
tives. \\ lien l attempt to pny in secret; when I bring my
little family around the family altar ; when 1 engage at our
prayer meetings; if 1 feel like talking to sinners; when I
visit ;he sick ; when I relieve the poor; when I commune
with my Pastor ; and yea, when I take God’s blessed word
and get upon my knees to read it. I am made to doubt the
motive. Bro. Chairman, I ask you, I ask all these humble
ministers and saints of God, is it thus with you ? Could I
hut know this, it would cheer my desponding heart. But my
brethren, we must not be governed alone by feelings. We
must consult our judgments, and what that fills us we should
| do. that we ought todo. Hut my brethren: we should be
careful that our judgments are right, and the best way we
have to ascertain whether they are right, is to compare them
with tlie word of God. It wo would ail take that for the man
of our counsel, what a mighty change would pass over this
{christiau world. How much difficulty and strife would be
avoided. O how much more purely religion would we have
in the world. Without it, it is needless to talk about grow,
ing in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
; Let our motive he the glory and honor of God. Let us de
itermine, as did good old Joshua, “As for me and my house
I 'vc “ ill serve God. ’ Let us endeavor to raise higher and
j still higher the standard of piety amongst us. Whose heart
has not pained him to see how low that standard has been in
.times past ? But let us all determine, by the giaee of God,
to become more holy, not only in heart but in practice.—
Let 14s determine from this hour to read our Bibles more, pray
more frequently and fervently in secret, with our families,
and with our brethren, and love each other and the cause of
God more, and show it to the world by attending to all our
church meetings, by cheering with our smiles, and assisting
with our prayers, the drooping spiritsof our Pastors.. Then,.
[.December