Conformity of the ecclesiastical discipline of the Reformed churches of France with that of the primitive Christians written by M. La Rocque ... ; render'd into English by Jos. Walker.

CONFORMITY.

It appears by Chap. 6. of the Acts of the Apostles, that the Office of Deacons is what our Discipline does represent, because they were first of all appointed to serve at Tables; that is to say, to take care of the Poor. Oecumenius in his Commentaries on this Chapter of the Acts, I now mentioned, observes expresly, that they were appointed to distribute to Widows and Orphans, with care, the things necessary for their subsistence: According to which, the Enemies of Cecilian Bishop of Carthage, laid it to his charge as a great crime, That being Deacon, he hindered people from giving meat to the Martyrs, whereas he ought to have car∣ried them some himself. * 1.1 Cardinal Julian, who presided at the Council of Basle, remonstrates to Pope Eugenius the Fourth, That there are several things he ought to do himself, and others which he may refer to the care of those which are under him, after the example of the Apostles; who to attend the more free∣ly to the Preaching of the Word, instituted seven Dea∣cons, which served Tables, and the administration of things of less weight.

It is nevertheless true, * 1.2 that in the time of Justin Martyr, it was the Pastor that distributed the Money to the Poor, which was appointed for their Maintenance, which was given by Peoples Charity. But this Di∣stribution in all likelihood was made by the Ministry of Deacons. * 1.3 Tertullian indeed in his Apologetick declares, one had care of the Poor, of Orphans, of Old Folks, of those which had lost their Goods by Shipwrack, of those which laboured in Mines, who were banished in∣to Islands, or detained in Prisons for the Gospel sake;

but he don't mention by whom it was done. The Church of Rome in the time of Cornelius its Bishop, that is, about the middle of the third Century, * 1.4 maintained above 1500 poor, as well Widows, as others, who were reduced to poverty, or afflicted with sickness or infirmities. The charity of that of Antioch was no less conspicuous than that of the Church of Rome, as we find by some of St. Chrysostom's Homilies on St. Mat∣thew, particularly the 67, and 86th. It is true, we are not certain that the Deacons were charged with the care of these two Churches in the days of Cornelius, and of St. Chrysostom; but we know very well, the Deacons amongst us attend on the things for which they were established by the Apostles; that is, that they should take care of the Poor and Necessitous, according to their Primitive institution. It was on this account that Fabian Bishop of Rome divided amongst seven Dea∣cons in the third Century the fourteen Quarters of the City of Rome; that is to say, to the end they should take care of the Poor which were in each of these Quarters, as is to be seen in the Roman Breviary on the 20th. day of January; and as Binnius observes in the Life of Fabian, Tom. Conc. pag. 114. But what the Deacons did at first, was in time performed by the Ministry of Oeconoms and others, of which the ancient Canons make so frequent mention, in such a way: nevertheless, that the Bishop had the chief power in the distribution, which however was not done without the knowledg of these Deputies, when they had taken the place and office of those first Deacons; and that it is so, I explain what Zozomen says of St. Epiphanius Lib. 7. Chap. 27. Read what shall be said on the second Art. of the 4th. Chap.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Fascicul. rer. Expet. & fug fol. 32. vers. Coloniae 1535.
• * 1.2

  Apolog. 2. pag. 99.
• * 1.3

  Cap. 39.
• * 1.4

  Apud Eu∣seb. Hist. lib 6. c. 43. p. 244.